Delivery of election supplies delayed

CEBU, Philippines – The City Treasurer's Office (CTO) is complaining over the delay in the delivery of election forms and supplies when the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election is barely three days from now.

Emma Villarete, assistant city treasurer for administration, said they would have needed more time to segregate the election paraphernalia to be distributed to each clustered precinct.

There will be 1,438 clustered precincts for the barangay election and 98 precincts for SK election, or a total of 1,536 precincts in Cebu City.

Villarete said that of the about 300 CTO employees, there will only be over 200 personnel that they can mobilize because the rest cannot leave their respective duties.

"Magbinuntagay na sad mi ani. Last May elections, the supplies were delivered eight days before election and we had to double our time, unsa na lang kaha karon," she said.

City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva, however, told them they can tap people from other departments if necessary.

The Commission on Elections Central Office is supposed to have delivered already the election forms, official ballot, ball pens, indelible ink, stamp pads, metal seal, paper seal and secrecy folder among others.

The ballot boxes are now secured at the City Hall.

Lawyer Marchel Sarno, election officer for Cebu City north district, however said that there is no delay yet because the central office told them the deliveries will not be beyond October 23.

Sarno said the main office chose to prioritize far-flung areas to assure that they will get their supplies in time for the election.

"Di pareha sa atuha nga pwede usa ra ka oras gikan Manila, naa ra dayon ta duol sa airport. Pero mao sad lagi, wala nila natanaw na dako kaayo ang Cebu City," Sarno said.

He said the CTO employees who will have to render overtime work do not have to worry because Mayor Michael Rama approved in principle their request for a P3.5-million budget for the overtime pay.

The P3.5 million is part of the P18 million election reserve fund they requested from the city. It will be included in the Supplemental Budget No. 5 that is expected to be passed soon.

The Comelec office in Cebu City is already prepared with their list of voters and list of candidates.

Villarete said that if the supplies will arrive on Saturday, they will have no choice but to distribute simultaneously the supplies to both north and south barangays.

The original schedule of distribution covers northern barangays tomorrow and southern barangays on Sunday.

The official ballots will be distributed at dawn of October 25. (FREEMAN)