Flood-prone polling sites a concern ahead of BARMM elections — Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is closely monitoring flood-prone schools that will serve as polling sites for the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), amid concerns that heavy rains could disrupt voting.

At a press conference at Comelec's Data Center 1 in Makati City on Monday, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body is assessing schools that will be used as voting centers, particularly in flood-prone areas of Maguindanao del Sur and Lanao del Sur.

"Comelec is more concerned about the schools where the elections will be held. The problem is that some of the schools where people are supposed to vote may be prone to flooding," Garcia told reporters.

"So we are looking at where we can transfer our voting centers and where people can cast their ballots in case of heavy rain on election day," he added.

The first BARMM parliamentary elections are scheduled for September 14.

Garcia also assured the public that despite inclement weather, votes cast during the elections can still be transmitted to Comelec's three data centers and reflected on its servers.

Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code provides that an election may be postponed due to violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, or other analogous causes that make it impossible to hold a free, orderly, and honest election.

"At this point, we do not see any cause for concern, and our election equipment is currently secure," Garcia said.

Comelec on Monday conducted a media walkthrough of Data Centers 1 and 2 in Makati City and Parañaque City, respectively, which will house servers for the BARMM elections.

Data Center 1 will house Comelec's main server for transmitted election results, while Data Center 2 will house the poll body's backup server.

Data Center 3, also in Makati City, houses servers for the dominant majority and minority political parties, citizens' arms, and the media, allowing stakeholders to monitor transmitted automated election results.

Election paraphernalia

Garcia said Comelec aims to complete the deployment of election paraphernalia for the BARMM elections by the end of August.

"Gusto ng Commission na bago matapos ang buwan na ito, nakapag-deploy na tayo sa lahat ng gamit na gagamitin," Garcia said in an ambush interview.

(The Commission wants to complete the deployment of all election equipment before the end of the month.)

He said election paraphernalia are being deployed first to Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, followed by Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, including the special geographic areas.

Garcia also urged the public to verify information they encounter online, stressing the need for widespread voter education ahead of the elections.

"Hindi lahat ng impormasyon na nakikita natin sa social media ay totoo. Kailangan i-verify, i-countercheck. Iwasan natin ang fake news," he said.

(Not all information we see on social media is true. We need to verify and cross-check it. Let us avoid fake news.)

Comelec completed the printing of ballots for the BARMM elections in late July.

Meanwhile, the election period began on July 16, along with the implementation of a gun ban.

The Philippine Army has also deployed additional troops to BARMM to help ensure safe and orderly elections.

Garcia said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed 8,000 personnel for the BARMM polls, while the Philippine National Police has deployed 3,000 personnel who may serve as substitute electoral board members should teachers be unable to serve on election day.

Comelec will also hold a command conference on August 25 and a stakeholders' meeting on August 26 in Parang, Maguindanao, to assess preparations for the BARMM elections.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, would continue to bring rains over Luzon and the western section of the Visayas on Monday. — MCG, GMA News