(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
With the pandemic situation, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will also be the first electoral exercise in the country that will use or adopt the minimum health standards and protocols.
“There will be checking of temperatures of voters. There will also be isolation facility (polling place) just in case there are those with temperature of 37.5 or above,”Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teopisto Elnas said in a press briefing in Puerto Princesa, Thursday, March 11.
He said social distancing will also be implemented.
“That’s the reason why we only allow five voters at a given time to enter (the polling precinct)…we will also control the number of watchers to be deployed,” said Elnas.
Commission on Elections
(MANILA BULLETIN)
“It’s all systems go for this plebiscite… Our people all over Palawan are ready to conduct this plebiscite,” Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho said in a press briefing in Puerto Princesa City, Thursday, March 11.
Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teopisto Elnas said except those for the Kalayaan Islands, all election paraphernalia have been deployed to the municipalities.
“For the Kalayaan Islands, our deployment was stalled because of the weather situation,” he said.
Far-flung polling precincts are also set to receive their election paraphernalia, Friday.
“Starting tomorrow (March 12), there will be an advance delivery in the far flung barangays,” Palawan Election Supervisor Urbano Arlando said.
Comelec to deliver plebiscite materials to seven Palawan towns earlier mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“Historically, plebiscites don’t have high voter turnout. Records show that the highest turnout during plebiscites is only at 47 percent,” MIMAROPA Regional Election Director (RED) Atty. Gloria Ramos-Petallo said in a virtual press briefing Monday, March 8.
Still, she said, they hope they will have 100 percent voting during the plebiscite.
Petallo also said that even if the voter turnout will be low, the plebiscite “will remain valid for as long as there are voters.” “
“We will just see who will have the higher number of votes, yes or no,” she said.
Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez also echoed what Petallo said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will establish an Isolation Polling Place (IPP) in every voting center during the March 13 Palawan plebiscite as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).