Northern Samar poll officers asked to check status of typhoon-hit voting centers

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional office here has asked election officers in Northern Samar to conduct inventory of typhoon hit-areas to see if classrooms can still be used as voting centers in the May 9, 2016 polls.

Comelec Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros said town election officers are given until January 15 to complete the assessment of school buildings destroyed by typhoon Nona when it ravaged the province last month.

“We expect that there are damages. That is why we asked them to check if these are still usable and if not, we would like to hear their recommendations,” Mendros told PNA.

Northern Samar has 476 schools tagged as voting centers in the past elections.

Possible alternative voting centers are village halls, multi-purpose halls, and covered courts. Churches and privately-owned structures are not considered as alternative voting centers.

“After the assessment, the election officer will come up with a request for transfer of voting precincts,” Mendros added.

The Comelec will also coordinate with the Department of Education to find out if they have capability to fix damaged classrooms before Election Day. (PNA)
FFC/SQM