Rama opposes holding of canvassing in Ecotech

Vice Mayor Michael Rama yesterday opposed the request of the Commission on Elections Cebu City office to transfer the venue of canvassing of votes in the May 14 elections from the City Council Session Hall to the DECS-Ecotech Center in sitio Sudlon, barangay Lahug.

Rama said that transfer of canvassing venue to DECS-Ecotech might pose some safety concerns because the place is quite secluded.

Instead, he suggested some possible venues like the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry auditorium located along Llorente Street near the Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu Grand Convention Center or at the SM City in the North Reclamation Area.

On Tuesday, City Election Officer for the north district Marchel Sarno wrote a letter to Comelec commissioner Resurreccion Borra, who is in charge of Region VII, asking for the transfer of venue of canvassing of votes in the city from the city legislative building to DECS-Ecotech in Sudlon, as the city legislative building cannot accommodate the canvassing of votes because it is undergoing renovation.

Likewise, he added that the city council session hall is too small to accommodate 22 sub-canvassing committees.

DepEd-7 director Carolino Mordeno declined Sarno''s proposal, saying the Ecotech Center is already booked, but Sarno said if Comelec en banc approves his request to transfer the venue there, DepEd will have to follow or else they can be held liable for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

In the 2004 national and local elections, the city Comelec used the auditorium of Cebu Normal University for the canvassing of votes in the city, but this year the auditorium is being used for review classes. - Wenna A. Berondo/BRP