BONTOC, Mountain Province – This capital town was set during the national and local election on May 13, 2019.
During the 2nd Quarter Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) meeting on May 8, 2019 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol, Acting Election Officer of Bontoc, James Pekas, Jr. said that the election paraphernalia for Bontoc were complete and ready for delivery to the polling precincts.
On safety and security, Police Senior Inspector Faith Ayan Igualdo, the Chief of Police of Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS) had police officers deployed in the delivery of the election paraphernalia to the polling precinct until the retrieval. This was in coordination with the Philippine Army. Aside from this, the Barangay Tanod in their respective barangays were be tapped to assist on the maintenance of peace and order.
On maintenance of power or electric supply, a representative from the Mountain Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO) assured linemen personnel were deployed to check electric wirings and electrical posts in all the polling places to ensure the availability of electricity especially on the Election Day.
As a counter measure in case of power interruption, five generator sets were committed to be on standby. These include a generator of the Bontoc LGU to be used at the Municipal Capitol, while the remaining four generator sets were from the MDRRM Office, MOPRECO, Barangay Caluttit, Barangay Bontoc Ili and Philippine Red Cross- Mountain Province Chapter.
First Aid Stations were in placed at the polling precincts in Bontoc Central School (BCS), Barangay Samoki and Barangay Talubin where the highest numbers of voters are listed. The First Aid Stations were manned by the personnel from the Bontoc Municipal Health Office/ Rural Health Unit, Department of Health (DOH) – Provincial Health Office, members of the Bontoc Emergency Response Team (BERT) and Philippine Red Cross – Mountain Province Chapter. For the other barangays of Bontoc, the Barangay Health Stations (BHS) or Barangay Health Clinics were manned by the respective Barangay Midwives with the assistance of the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs).
Also, MDRRM Officer Johanna Padaen said the council members that the Bontoc MDRRMC Operation Center was activated from May 9 to May 14, 2019 purposely for the national and local midterm election.
Meanwhile, Mayor Franklin Odsey, who chairs the MDRRMC, thanked all those in attendance during the meeting adding that it is a manifestation of their commitment in ensuring a peaceful and orderly election.
By Alpine L. Killa
