Air traffic delays ballot delivery

MANILA, Philippines – Citing air traffic congestion in Manila, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has changed the schedule of the deployment of official ballots to the provinces.

It advised its officers in at least 19 provinces that the shipment may be delayed for a day or two as the Comelec’s Packing and Shipping Committee said the shipment schedule has to be modified because of the country’s crowded airspace.

Based on the notice it issued last Monday, the committee said the ballots for Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte provinces were shipped on April 26 and 27, instead of the original April 25 schedule.

Comelec is also expected to ship today the official ballots for Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental provinces.

On April 30, it would send the ballots to Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces.

The Comelec earlier announced that the 54.3-million official ballots were ready for deployment starting last Monday.

The official ballots, the vote counting machines and other election paraphernalia will be brought to the regional hubs first until these are deployed to the respective polling precincts nationwide.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has also offered its resources to the Comelec to help transport election paraphernalia to far-flung areas.

PCG commandant Rear Admiral William Melad ordered his men to give whatever assistance they can when the Comelec asks for help in the distribution of ballots, vote counting machines and other election-related paraphernalia, said PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo.

In February, the Comelec announced that the logistics firm 2Go won the bid to transport the election paraphernalia.

It has also coordinated with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the assignment of deputies, especially in high-risk areas.

The Comelec and Smartmatic Philippines also briefed yesterday Senate officials and employees on the process of receiving the Certificates of Canvass (COCs) and Election Returns (ERs) for the May 9 presidential and vice presidential elections. 

Senate Secretary Oscar Yabes said the preparation is in compliance with Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution that provides for the transmission of election returns for president and vice president to Congress.

Yabes added that the Senate would be ready to receive the COCs and ERs immediately after polling precincts close at 5 p.m. on May 9.

The Senate president, within 30 days, shall open all the certificates in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives and canvass the votes in joint session. – With Evelyn Macairan, Cristina Mendez