Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Roberto Salazar said yesterday, April 18, that 2,906 VCMs for Negros Occidental including its capital Bacolod City arrived last week.
These VCMs were immediately secured by Comelec officials and brought to a warehouse where they are being guarded by the police, army and the members of the Philippine Coast Guard.
Salazar said the segregation of VCMs is being conducted right now so that it will be properly distributed in various towns and cities.
On May 7, the VCMs will be delivered to the polling places for the final testing and sealing except for the far-flung areas.
The official ballots, on the other hand, are expected to arrive in the province in the first week of May.
It will be directly delivered to the city and town treasurer’s offices, he said, adding that the distribution of the election paraphernalia will be conducted by the Comelec, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine National Police (PNP), among others.
Negros Occidental has a total of 1,946,639 registered voters.
In Bacolod City, meanwhile, the Comelec will conduct the final testing and sealing of VCMs on May 7.
Acting Bacolod Comelec officer lawyer Revo Sorbito said they received a total of 450 VCMs to be distributed to various polling precincts.
Sorbito said the testing and sealing will be held at various schools to ensure that the VCMs are operational.
The VCMs were brought to a warehouse in the city and will be secured by the members of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Sorbito said they will hold a final meeting with the electoral board including the support staff for the testing and sealing of VCMs on May 4.
Bacolod City earlier identified 45 public schools as voting centers for May elections with 450 clustered precincts and 1, 350 teachers who will serve as members of the electoral board.
“We are ready for May elections and so far, we don’t see any problems,” he said, adding that “we are also thankful for the support of the Provincial Comelec Office, PNP and AFP.”
Sorbito also said that the testing and sealing of the VCMs are open to the members of the media as well as candidates who would like witness the activity.
Comelec records showed that Bacolod City has a total of 327,403 registered voters.