ILOILO City — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ensuring that no power disruptions will affect the upcoming May 12 electoral process in Western Visayas.
Director Dennis Ausan said contingency plans are in place to maintain a stable and uninterrupted power supply on election day. These efforts are being coordinated with local electric cooperatives and security forces.
“I have already instructed all provincial election supervisors to directly coordinate with power providers within their respective areas of jurisdiction,” Ausan said. “So far, we have encountered no issues. The Association of Filipino Electric Power Industry Participants (AFIPA) has assured us that various electric cooperatives are prepared and fully on board.”
Ausan confirmed that preparations are in their final stages. Comelec is also collaborating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to secure critical power infrastructure, including substations and transmission lines, which are essential during the elections.
“This partnership with the PNP is crucial to ensuring that all power facilities remain safe and operational throughout the voting period,” Ausan added.
Additionally, Ausan highlighted a key milestone: a formal agreement signed between Comelec and MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), which services Iloilo City.
The agreement includes MORE Power’s commitment to surpassing standard protocols to meet energy needs.
“They have pledged to do even more than what they’ve done in past elections, providing 101 percent of our power requirements. This kind of commitment gives us the confidence that we can conduct a smooth and uninterrupted electoral exercise,” Ausan said.
With these measures in place, COMELEC expects the entire voting process — from the transmission of results to the operation of vote-counting machines — to proceed without technical delays due to power issues.
“We are leaving nothing to chance. Ensuring that electricity remains available and stable is critical not just for logistics but for upholding the integrity of the elections,” Ausan emphasized./PN
