Comelec seeks nod on use of malls as precincts

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Davao City is now waiting for the approval of its national office for the accreditation of malls in the city to be used as polling precincts this coming May 9 elections.
Comelec 11 assistant regional director and acting first district election officer Marlon Casquejo said the polling office had already talked with mall managers on the requirements needed for the use of mall areas.
“We are also waiting for the approval of the malls involved,” he said.
Casquejo has initially named five malls that can be possibly utilized as voting areas in the city.
“Here in Davao City, I guess, the malls that can be used in the election are SM City Davao in Ecoland, SM Lanang Premiere, Abreeza Ayala Mall, Gaisano Mall and Gaisano South Mall in Ilustre (Street),” he said.
He said in the first district, he already asked permission of the management of Abreeza Ayala Mall and SM City Davao in Ecoland for the use of their malls as voting precincts.
Casquejo said aside from Davao City, there will be also mall voting in other places in the region such as in the cities of Tagum and Panabo in Davao del Norte, and in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.
He said a public hearing was conducted  to hear their sentiments on the proposal.
He added that mall voting is supposed to be intended for persons with disabilities (PWD) and senior citizens.
“Ang uban man gud na PWD og senior citizens wala sila nagpa-separate og precinto. Dapat man gud naa sila’y intent para iisa na lang sila sa isa ka presinto (The other PWDs and senior citizens asked not to be separated from other voters.  They need to express their intent to be separated so that they will be placed in one precinct),” he said.
“If they are grouped with the regular voters, they will be entertained first when they arrive at the precincts. That is why they did not exercise the separation,” he said.
Casquejo said if all requirements will be complied with, up to three clustered precincts will be transferred to malls.