Distribution of poll materials starts

CEBU, Philippines - Election materials and other paraphernalia were distributed yesterday to members of the Board of Election Inspectors in the north district of Cebu City.

The distribution of the same materials for the south district will be done today.

Cebu City treasurer Emma Villarete said that as far as the north district is concerned, they are “very much ready” for tomorrow’s elections.

Teachers serving as members of the BEIs were provided yesterday with election materials, such as ballot secrecy folders, indelible ink, bond paper, and envelopes for election returns. These will be used in 271 polling precincts in 44 barangays in the north district, Villarete said.

“Wa ma’y problema nga na-encounter so far, and okay lang tanan,” said Villarete, who oversaw the distribution of election materials yesterday.

The BEIs also went to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) north district office to get the list of voters for their assigned polling precinct.

Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines have been delivered earlier to the different voting centers during COMELEC’s final testing and sealing last week.

Villarete said that the official ballots will be delivered at dawn tomorrow.

“Ihatod na siya at 1 a.m. sa ilang mga respective polling precincts. Hopefully by 5 a.m., naa na didto ang mga official ballots, ug naa na sad didto ang mga BEI’s,” she said, adding that the BEIs and official ballots are expected to be available by 7 a.m. to start entertaining voters.— Raffy Cabristante, Silliman University intern/FPL (FREEMAN)