Comelec eyes makeshift precincts in areas affected by Kanlaon

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing to establish makeshift polling precincts in areas affected by the recent Kanlaon Volcano eruption.

This is what Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday when asked about the election plans in areas near Kanlaon Volcano.

“May contingency measure po kami d’yan na pinag-usapan namin sa ating regional office, lalong-lalo na ’yung pagtatayo ng mga makeshift polling places or precincts sa mga maaapektuhan o madidisplace na kababayan natin doon sa paligid ng Kanlaon,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.

(We have a contingency measure that we talked about with our regional office, especially in building makeshift polling places or precincts in affected areas where our electorates will be displaced near Kanlaon [volcano].)

READ: Ashfalls observed in areas in Negros after Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption

Kanlaon Volcano, which sits between Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, had an explosive eruption on Tuesday morning, producing a 4,000-meter-tall plume that drifted southwest. Ashfall was also observed in barangays near the western part of the volcano.

Garcia said that voters might not be able to vote in their respective polling precincts, especially schools within the area, if the restiveness of the volcano continues.

READ: Palace reviewing LGU’s extra fund request amid Kanlaon unrest

“Kasama na rin po sa pakikipag-ugnayan na ginawa ng Comelec sa atin pong Office of Civil Defense upang matulungan din ang aming mga tauhan sa pagseset up kung sakali ng pansamantalang pagbobotohan po,” Garcia added.

(Comelec and the Office of Civil Defense also discussed how to help our personnel in setting up makeshift polling precincts.)

Garcia noted that the poll body is ready to ensure that no one will be disenfranchised in the May 2025 elections due to the volcano’s activities.

He mentioned that the poll body will release reports on affected electorates in the coming days, as the poll body prioritizes saving materials in local Comelec offices.

“May backup sa mga documents sa mga paligid sa Kanlaon. ’Di mako-compromise ang halalan sapagkat and’yan pa rin yung kagamitan ng Comelec,” Garcia said.

(We have backups of our documents in areas near Kanlaon. The elections will not be compromised because the materials of the Comelec are still there.)