Teachers to pick up ballot boxes from CH

All public school teachers in Metro Cebu were given a final briefing by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over the weekend ahead of tomorrow’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

“Basically, we just want to remind our teachers of their duties and responsibilities as Board of Election Tellers (BETs) during the elections,” Comelec Cebu City north district officer Marchel Sarno said.

All ballot boxes to be used for the elections in Cebu City will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cebu City Hall today. The elections will be done manually.

Cipriano Balili, liaison officer of the Department of Education (DepEd), urged the BETs to learn from their mistakes in the past elections.

He cited as an example a teacher who misplaced a ballot box to talk with someone.

“After their conversation, the BET simply picked up a ballot box among several other boxes, thinking that it was the same ballot box he placed on the floor. But when he arrived at the polling precinct, he realized that he had picked up the wrong ballot box,” he said.

Balili also reminded the BETs to be on time and to be well-versed on their respective responsibilities. The BET is composed of a chairperson and two members, all public school teachers.

Pilot test

The BET will act as deputies of the Comelec in the supervision and control of the election in the polling place.

They are also tasked to maintain order within the polling place and its premises.

For tomorrow’s barangay polls, BETs will receive an honorarium of P2,500.

Except for earthquake-hit Bohol, Comelec Regional Director Temie Lambino said they haven’t encountered any major problems.

But he said some polling centers in Mandaue City were transferred to nearby buildings due to some damage caused by the Oct. 15 earthquake.

Selected senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will be allowed to vote inside SM City Cebu as part of a pilot test by the Comelec.

About 68 voters from Mabolo, Cebu City were chosen at random to vote inside the mall.

Convenience

The pilot test was meant to identify the challenges before the program will be expanded for the national elections in 2016.

Comelec provincial officer Ferdinand Guijilde called on local officials not to endorse barangay candidates.

In the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, about 1,485 and 1,551 teachers, respectively, were given their final briefing by the Comelec.

More than 500 security personnel from the police, Air Force and Navy were deployed in Lapu-Lapu City and more than 400 police personnel will also be deployed in Mandaue City for the elections.

For voters’ convenience, they may view in advance their precinct numbers at the Comelec’s website before voting. With Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza