MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA) – Government forces in Lanao del Sur province have already commenced preparations for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled on October 30 this year.
In the third quarter joint meeting of the Provincial Development Council (PDC), Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), and Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Council (PADAC), officials from Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (LDSPPO), 103rd Infantry Brigade, and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Provincial Office reported their coordination efforts and measures to carried out to ensure public’s safety amid the upcoming elections.
Lawyer Udtog Tago, acting provincial election supervisor, said they convened the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Committee (PJSCC) and several meetings were conducted to tackle about mechanisms to prevent election violence. Moreover, municipal JSCCs have been activated.
Tago said the new ballot boxes they requested to replace dilapidated and damaged ones also arrived on August 16 while the reconstitution of election boards (EBs) is ongoing. To complete the list of EBs, he said that they are waiting for the official list from the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education for the teachers who are qualified and willing to serve during the 2023 BSKE.
LDSPPO Deputy Director PLTCol Glenford Alberto said they spearheaded a stakeholders summit for unity and peace earlier this month to solicit the cooperation and support of all sectors in the province for a peaceful, credible, and successful election.
To ensure a safe and orderly filing of the certificate of candidacy, Alberto suggested the deployment of two quick response teams for Marawi City and one team per municipality to provide security in the respective COMELEC offices during the filing period.
An augmentation of one team each from the LDSPPO headquarters to beef up security in areas considered under the initial areas of concern is also recommended. These are the Malabang, Pualas, Bayang, Tubaran, Lumbatan, Masiu, Piagapo, Marogong, Marawi City, Butig, Tamparan, Ganassi, Pagayawan, Lumbac Unayan, Balabagan, and Maguing.
Lanao del Sur has 2,374 clustered precincts and 240 voting centers.
Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr., who chaired the three councils, said the joint meeting aims to strengthen the collaboration of the security forces, COMELEC, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth and secure electoral process during the BSKE 2023. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
