KALIBO, Aklan – The Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) assured that there will be no power interruptions, or “brownouts,” during the conduct of the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Aklan spokesman Crispin Raymund Gerardo said Akelco told them that it already prepared contingency measures for power distribution on and after election day.
“Within the whole election week, walang ‘brownouts’ or power interruption sa mga polling precincts,” said Gerardo. “May deployment plans ang Akelco assuring us na ready sila for the election.”
Akelco – the sole power distributor in Aklan – supplies electricity to 327 barangays in the province.
In case of power interruption, vote counting machines (VCMs) are equipped with batteries that can last up to 14 hours, said Gerardo.
Aside from Akelco, Comelec also met with the officials of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Health, Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and telecommunication companies over the conduct of the national and local polls next month.
Comelec-Aklan will use 560 VCMs during election day, corresponding to the number of clustered precincts in the province.
Election paraphernalia including ballots from Comelec central office will be delivered before May 13.
The police are also ready to secure the polling precincts with the deployment of additional 400 uniformed personnel from the Police Regional Office 6.
At least two police officers will guard polling centers.
“All set na tayo for the May election,” Gerardo said. (With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
