ANTIQUE – All Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) – Emergency Operation Centers in the province of Antique will be on blue alert beginning Saturday, Oct. 28, in preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 30, as well as the All Saints’ and All Souls’ days, or “Undas,” on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively.
A memorandum on this was issued by Gov. Rhodora Cadiao on Oct. 20 and addressed to the chairpersons of DRRMCs at the barangay, municipal and provincial levels.
Cadiao said that in lieu of the upcoming polls and the observance of “Undas,” many people are expected to flock to polling precincts as well as cemeteries around the province to commemorate the deceased loved ones.
Moreover, she said that on this long holiday, it is anticipated that family members working outside the province will go home to take a vacation and spend time with their relatives and families together.
“In this regard, the PDRRMC Emergency Operations Center located at the PDRRM Office will be activated on blue alert level effective Oct. 28, 2023, until Nov. 3, 2023; likewise, all municipal and barangay emergency operations centers are hereby directed to activate on the same status to establish and maintain close monitoring, intensified coordination and operational readiness to provide prompt emergency response and ensure the overall safety of the general public,” read part of Memorandum No. 29, Series 2023.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared the election day on Oct. 30 a special non-working holiday.
Commission on Elections data showed more than 400,000 Antiqueños are expected to cast their votes.
Over 2K security forces deployed
During the send-off ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO), more than 2,000 security personnel with logistical complement were deployed consisting of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
APPO officer-in-charge Lt. Col. Ricardo Jomuad Jr. said they have requested 715 police officers from the regional headquarters to augment their 1,000 personnel in the province.
The 61st Infantry Battalion, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Arturo Balgos, is closely monitoring the 12 election areas of concern in the province. So far, they have no reports of vote-buying and vote-selling activities.
Meanwhile, the BFP, under the leadership of Fire Marshall Superintendent Patricio Collado, commenced yesterday its inspection of classrooms that will be used as polling precincts to ensure they are safe from fire hazards.
At the same time, the PCG, with deputy commander Ensign Joshua Paul Junsay, will deploy its floating asset at the Lipata Port in Culasi.
“We have the air, land, and water assets because of the concerted effort,” Antique Provincial Election Supervisor Lawyer Salud Milagros Villanueva said during the send-off. (With a report from PNA)/PN
