City readies ballot boxes: All is set for polls on Monday

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City is preparing for tomorrow's barangay election with at least 1,500 ballot boxes now ready for transport to polling precincts around the city.

The City Treasurer's Office yesterday readied 1,558 yellow ballot boxes with red label bearing the name of assigned barangays.

The boxes, which were housed in two tents for the city's north and south districts, were placed at Plaza Sugbu fronting the legislative building.

They will be transported to the 80 barangays on the day of election from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., according to OIC City treasurer Diwa Cuevas.

Of  the 1,558 total ballot boxes, 865 are intended for south district while 692 will be used for north district.

One ballot box will be utilized for the pilot Accessible Polling Precinct (APP) inside SM City Cebu for prelisted senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Barangay Mabolo.

The campaign for candidates vying for the 640 barangay positions in the city involving barangay captain and councilors ended yesterday.

Those who violate the campaign rules face disqualification by the Commission on Elections.

The liquor ban will also take effect from midnight today to midnight of October 28.

Under the ban, selling, offering, buying, serving, and taking of alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Aside from the police and traffic personnel, barangay-based Emergency Medical Services units will also be deployed starting today until election day.

Councilor Dave Tumulak said the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction  Management Office (CCDRRMO) has utilized the police hotline 166 for the public to call during emergencies.

Ambulances will also be stationed in key areas.

"We have six identified groups participating in this endeavor. We have Basak Pardo Emergency Response, Inayawan Rescue Team, Ang Labangon Emergency Rescue Team, Pit-os Rescue Team, Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, and Philippine National Red Cross volunteers," Tumulak told The FREEMAN.

The voting will start from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. — /LPM (FREEMAN)