DAVAO CITY (PIA) – All the 105 barangays in the province of Davao Occidental have been declared under the Election Area of Concern (EAC) Category Green relative to the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) slated on October 30, 2023.

The declaration is contained under Resolution No. 01-2023 of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center of Davao Occidental.

Per Comelec Resolution No. 10924, which defines four different categorization of EAC, the areas under Category Green have no security concerns or are relatively peaceful and orderly.

Despite the green categorization in the province, the Davao Occidental Police Provincial Office still upholds alertness on any election-related atrocity, said Police Major Chuckstaire Hernaez Fegi, the chief of DavOcc PPO’s provincial community development affairs and development.  

The representatives from other government agencies such as the Malita Police Station, Bureau of Internal Revenue and 73rd Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army, also manifested their support, and witnessed the Covenant Signing.

Prior the covenant signing, the Provincial Committee on Kontra Bigay has also been activated during a Multi-Stakeholders Conference in the province where stakeholders shared their insights, concerns, and strategies to ensure the integrity of the local elections.

In a social media post, the Davao Occidental Comelec states that the activation of the Provincial Committee on Kontra Bigay “signifies our commitment to combat vote-buying and electoral corruption.”

The committee’s role is to monitor, report, and prevent any illicit activity that could undermine the sanctity of the elections.

“As we stand on the cusp of this vital democratic exercise, we are resolute in our dedication to a just and equitable electoral process. Together, we strive to empower our communities, protect the voice of every citizen, and strengthen the foundation of our local governance,” the provincial Comelec reassures the public. (CLC/PIA-XI)