Comelec: May 2022 elections to push ahead amid COVID-19 surge threat

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday assured that the upcoming May 9 elections will push through despite threats of COVID-19 surge, adding that contingency measures are already in place.

Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay, vice chairman of the poll body’s new normal committee, said that they have signed partnership with different departments and agencies responsible for the control of the spread of COVID-19 infections and its new sub-variants ahead of May 9.

“Ang data shows na after elections mayroong high probability na magkaroon ng spike tayo kasi sa elections ay superspreader events sabi nila. Kaya po ang commission kasama po sa pamumuno ng aming chairman at mga commissioners marami pong tinayong safeguards,” he said at the media briefing.

(The data shows that after elections there is a high probability that we will have a spike because elections are superspreader events, as they say. That is why the commission, together with the leadership of the chairman and commissioners, has placed safeguards in polling places.)

“Alam niyo po hindi natin pwedeng ideny ang karapatan nilang bumoto kasi on election day wala naman pong makakapagsabi kung may COVID yun, o may runny nose, or may sore throat or even may fever kaya mayroon po kaming safeguards,” he added.

(You know we can't deny their right to vote because during election day, no one can tell if they have COVID, or runny nose, or sore throat or even fever so we have safeguards in place.)

Asked if the elections will be postponed despite the reports of possible COVID-19 surge, Bulay said “Hindi tayo pwedeng bumali sa mandato ng Saligang Batas na elections (we cannot violate the Constitution) should be held on May 9, 2022, kaya we are here and everything is put into place to answer for contingencies.”

Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said that they have already prepared supplies and trained election workers on the possible untoward incidents that happened during the elections.

“I don’t think we can postpone elections, we have already prepared the supplies ready and trained election workers...we have contingency measures so kung may mga spike the committee on new normal has prepared on how to respond to that,” she said.

Commissioner Marlon Casquejo also echoed the same sentiments assuring that the poll body is prepared for any possible untoward incidents, saying that “Kaya sigurado tayo (We are sure) suspension is not an option, we will do the election as mandated by the constitution.”

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier warned that the country may experience another surge in COVID-19 infections by mid-May, with Metro Manila possibly recording as many as almost half a million active cases if the minimum public health standards are ignored.

48% of official ballots already been delivered

Ferolino said at least 48.04% of the official ballots have already been dispatched, while 96.44% of vote counting machines (VCM) have also been deployed to local hubs as of April 27.

Meanwhile, VCM external batteries were dispatched 99.54%, while ballot boxes were dispatched to local hubs 100%, transmission devices dispatched 100%, and consolidated canvassing machine system (CCS) laptop 99.01%.

Ferolino said at least 13 trucks departed with accountable forms and supplies on Thursday.

The Comelec commissioner said the en banc also approved additional guidelines for the companions of vulnerable sectors.

“Companions of persons with physical disability and restricted mobility manifesting the motor restrictions such as tremors [and] weaknesses which restrict the filling out of forms and ballots are now allowed to vote in the emergency accessible polling places,” Ferolino said.

According to Ferolino, a total of 511,612 persons with disability are registered voters for the May 2022 polls.—LDF, GMA News