The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in MIMAROPA vows to ensure a smooth flow of the voting process in the region as it prepares for the national and local elections on May 12.
In an interview by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Oriental Mindoro, Regional Director Gloria Petallo confirmed that a series of training have already been conducted, including the Training of Trainers for Department of Science and Technology (DOST) certifiers and Department of Education (DepEd) election supervisors.
Petallo added that starting March 3, training sessions for the members of the Electoral Board will start, which will continue until the end of the month. Meanwhile, the training for the Board of Canvassers will be in the second week of April.
While the MIMAROPA region’s COMELEC office has yet to provide an update on the exact percentage of printed ballots, Petallo reassured that all ballots will be printed by mid-April.
She said that the printing of ballots began in the first week of January but had to be adjusted due to Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court.
“The COMELEC is ensuring the timely distribution of ballots for the upcoming elections,” she added.
For now, Petallo said, there have been no reports in the region concerning the “Kontra-Bigay” campaign, an initiative led by the COMELEC to prevent vote buying and vote selling.
The campaign, which is overseen by the Committee on Kontra-Bigay, operates under the leadership of the Commissioner in Charge. On the local level, Regional/Provincial/City/Municipal Kontra-Bigay committees will soon be activated, with the Comelec-Mimaropa set to convene these members in the coming days.
In her message to candidates, Petallo urged them to prioritize the welfare of the Filipino people.
“Nawa’y maging tapat, maayos at alinsunod sa batas ang inyong pangangampanya. Isaalang-alang po natin ang kapakanan ng bayan at tiyaking mananatiling malinis, maayos at patas ang ating halalan,” Petallo said.
Petallo also urged the voters to vote responsibly and freely for the future of our nation.
“Sa mga botante, ang inyong mga boto ang inyong boses sa paghubog ng kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Maging matalinong botante po tayo. Gamitin ito nang maayos at malaya,” she added.
She also assured the public that the Comelec-Mimaropa continues to work diligently to ensure a clean, peaceful, and orderly election process, while asking for the cooperation of the general public to preserve the sanctity of the votes and strengthen the country’s democracy.
“Magtulungan tayo upang mapanatili ang kabanalan ng ating boto at mapatatag ang ating demokrasya,” Petallo said. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
