TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines — All the election paraphernalia for the postponed barangay election are already in Bohol even before the original poll schedule last October, according to officials of the provincial Comelec here.
Provincial election supervisor Eliseo Labaria said the election paraphernalia are now at the provincial treasurer’s office, will be segregated and turned over to the respective municipal treasurers that will in turn forward these to the barangays before Election Day on Nov. 24.
Labaria said Comelec-Bohol will make sure the process will be spontaneous of which, right after the casting of ballots, counting of votes will immediately follow then the canvassing. “There should be no gap in every step of the process to avoid cheating,†he said.
Comelec-Bohol recorded 17,995 candidates for the barangay elections in entire province wherein 2,165 are running for barangay captains and 15,830 for barangay kagawads in 1,109 barangays.
Since the campaign period reeled off last Nov. 15, election officers in the towns have been closely monitoring the distribution of relief packs in earthquake-hit areas to avoid candidates from taking advantage and capitalizing on the situation to convince electorate to vote for them.
Labaria said the campaign period will end this Saturday (Nov. 23), and the casting of votes will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but brownouts in most parts of the province are one challenge that Comelec-Bohol now faces.
He said Comelec-Bohol might get generator sets in case the counting and canvassing will extend to the evening.
Candidates were also reminded to post their campaign materials only in designated common poster areas, and that the size should be 2X3 feet per poster, while individual campaign materials must only be up to a long bond paper in size. (FREEMAN)