No postponement of elections in Kanlaon-affected areas —Comelec

Voting will push through in areas affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.

Comelec officials, led by chairperson George Erwin Garcia, conducted voter education and demonstration of the automated counting machines (ACMs) in one of the evacuation centers in La Carlota, Negros Occidental. 

“Ang ating ambisyon at all costs, walang failure of elections, walang postponement of elections, walang ide-deklara na resetting of elections. Dapat at all costs, lahat makaboto sa May 12,” Garcia told reporters. 

(Our goal is to not declare, at all costs, a failure of elections, postponement of elections, or resetting of elections. All voters should be able to cast ballots on May 12.)

The Comelec will set up satellite voting sites in the evacuation centers to cater to the displaced voters. Garcia said the poll body may consider extending the voting hours if needed, but said no voters will be disenfranchised in the affected areas on May 12. 

“Walang pinagkaiba ito sa regular na presinto. Kung gaano karami ang presinto na meron sila ganon karami ang mga makina na ipapadla rito,” he said. 

(The offsite precincts are similar to the regular ones. We will send as much as machines they needed.)

Kanlaon Volcano remains at Alert Level 3 following its eruption in December 2024 and April 2025. 

Some 16,000 registered voters were affected by the eruption but it may increase to over 75,000 should the alert level of the volcano reach Alert Level 4, said Garcia.

Meanwhile, the poll chief called on the affected voters who are staying outside the evacuation centers to cast their ballots at the satellite voting site.

“Makakaboto kayong lahat at bibilangin natin lahat ng boto ninyo,” he said. 

(You can all vote and your votes will be counted.)

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