Comelec reproducing storm-damaged Bicol poll documents

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia (INQUIRER / NINO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is reproducing election documents damaged by the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in parts of the Bicol region.

“We are in close coordination with the regional director and the areas where our materials were compromised are already reported to us. Therefore, we are now in the process of reproducing the data,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said, partly in Filipino during a press briefing on Tuesday.

“There is no problem because we always have backup in the main office. Everything is here,” Garcia added. 

Garcia added that they need to find out what will happen to voter registrants from July 15 to September 30 who underwent election registration board hearings [ERB]. 

Garcia noted that they will have to replace all the election-related materials including paraphernalia, laptops, office supplies, and office furniture damaged in the 12 municipalities in the region. 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in its Tuesday report said that 7,134,954 individuals  or 1,789,276 families were affected by Kristine.

A total of 2,746,214 of the affected individuals are from the Bicol region.