COMELEC Slates Training for Staff, Teachers on Poll Automation

Legazpi City (11 January) -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Albay will train its staff and teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors (BEI) for May 2010 elections, on the use of the precinct count optical scan machine (PCOS) two weeks from now.

Atty. Romeo Serrano, COMELEC Albay provincial election supervisor, said during a radio interview that said training will be conducted after his return from Manila.

Serrano will undergo the same training exercise in COMELEC central office within this week.

Serrano also said that the deadline for constituting BEIs was January 8.

He said teachers need to be equipped with knowledge and skills on managing the voters and any other eventualities that may arise, such as protests of poll watchers of the different political parties and candidates on the election day.

In the same radio interview, Serrano enumerated the important dates to keep in mind in connection with the May 2010 elections. Total gun ban will start January 10 until June 9 or 30 days after elections.

Transfers are prohibited after February 9, and so is the suspension of local government officials. Hiring, including promotion of employees, is disallowed starting March 6. Likewise, construction ban of public works also starts March 6.

A two-day liquor ban will be implemented strictly on May 9-10.

Total gun ban means all individuals with permit-to-carry are not allowed to carry guns outside their private residences.

Only members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) are exempted from said gun ban as long as they are on duty and must wear proper uniform with name tags. Other law enforcement officers including security guards are excused from the gun ban as long as it is in accordance with their performance of duty.

Serrano also disclosed that Albay's voters increased to 700,000 from 676,000, spreading out in 15 towns and 3 cities, and are expected to cast their votes in 3,307 voting centers.

In past elections Albay province was not placed under election watch list. (PIA V)

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