Comelec: Eleksyon 2025 still a go in Bulusan eruption-affected areas

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing setting up satellite voting centers in areas affected by the recent phreatic eruption of Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon.

“Parang gagawin natin sa Mt. Kanlaon na kung may mga kababayan tayo na madi-displace sa kanilang mga tirahan na kung saan magkakaroon ng satellite voting centers o offsite voting centers, gagawin din natin yan kung talagang kakailanganin dito sa Bulusan,” poll chief George Erwin Garcia said Monday.

(We will set up satellite voting centers in the affected areas if needed.)

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert level in Bulusan Volcano from Alert Level 0 to Alert Level 1 after it monitored a phreatic eruption from the volcano early Monday from 4:36 a.m. to 5 a.m.

According to Garcia, the May 12 elections will push through in the affected areas so far as there are still no elements warranting postponement of the elections such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia, force majeure, and other analogous causes.

“Sa kasalukuyan, walang nakikita ang Comelec na anumang kadahilanan sa kahit anong parte ng bansa na magj-justify ng postponement ng ating halalan…May paraan naman kami kung paano makakaboto ang mga kababayan natin. Pwede naman dalhin ang presinto sa lugar kung nasaan ang evacuation sites ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

(We have yet to see any reasons to postpone the May polls in any areas in the country. We still have ways to hold the elections in the affected area. We can set up precincts inside the evacuation centers.)

The poll body earlier laid out contingency plans for the conduct of the 2025 national and local elections (NLE) in Negros Island following the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on April 8. This includes setting up of offsite voting centers in the affected areas.

No evacuation

In a press statement, Garcia said the election officers (EO) in the affected areas said there are no reports of forced evacuation or use of voting centers as evacuation sites so far.

However, they are directed to coordinate with government agencies for the formulation of contingency plans in case the activity of the volcano escalates.

“The EOs of municipalities surrounding the foot of Mt. Bulusan-Irosin, Juban and Bulusan-reported no forced evacuation or use of any voting center as evacuation sites,” Garcia said.

“However, the EOs concerned are given instructions to coordinate closely with DEPED, LGU and PHIVOLCS for formulation of election-related contingency plan should there be an escalation of Mt. Bulusan activity,” he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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