ELECTIONS in areas on Negros Island affected by the Kanlaon volcano’s unrest will push through, even in the event of a major eruption.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said this during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) at the Capitol’s social hall in Bacolod City on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
“Walang failure of elections kahit pumutok pa ang bulkan (No failure of elections even if the volcano will erupt),” Garcia said during a press conference following the MOA signing.
“At all cost, the Comelec and its partners must find a way to have elections,” Garcia added, underscoring that even residents staying in evacuation centers need to vote.
Kanlaon volcano remains under Alert Level 3 with volcanic activities continuing to pose threats in the community.
If the current alert level persists, 24,362 registered voters from Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental will be transferred to safer polling places, according to Comelec.
In a worst-case scenario or an Alert Level 4, Comelec will relocate 113,461 voters including 75,711 from five municipalities and cities in Negros Occidental and 37,690 from Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Regional Task Force Kanlaon head Raul Fernandez said OCD teams are coordinating with the local government units, the police, and the military for logistics and security efforts.
Defense Undersecretary and OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said they are prepared to ensure that the elections proceed safely even in worst-hit areas.
Authorities plan specific voter relocations in Negros Occidental.
In La Castellana, 2,348 voters from Barangay Cabagnaan will vote at La Castellana National High School in Barangay Robles, instead of their usual precincts at old Fabrica and Cabagnaan elementary schools.
In Bago City, its 2,102 voters from Ilijan will be relocated from RS Abindan Elementary School to Ramon Torres Louisiana National High School in the city proper; La Carlota City will transfer 2,490 voters from Barangay Ara-al and 1,789 from Yubo to Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National Senior High School; and 725 voters in Barangay Gomez and 665 in Zamora, both in Pontevedra, will vote at schools in Barangay Antipolo.
In Murcia, 6,871 voters from Barangay Minoyan will be moved to Murcia National High School in Barangay Blumentritt.
In Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, 7,371 voters will be transferred from schools in high-risk villages to safer locations with voters from Barangay Linothangan to vote at Macario Espanolla Memorial School and the Linothangan covered court.
Voters from Masulog and Panubigan will be brought to Jose Cardenas Memorial High School’s main campus, while Pula voters will be relocated to the school’s uptown campus in Barangay Mabigo.
Provincial Election Supervisor Jessie Suarez said this will be the first election that there is a natural hazard present. / RAPPLER