2 DAYS LEFT FOR VOTER REGISTRATION FOR ‘ BARANGAY,’ SK ELECTIONS

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called on the public to take advantage of the last two remaining days of voter registration for next year’s (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or Youth Council) synchronized polls. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez on Tuesday advised new registrants and those who have election-related concerns to immediately go to the nearest Comelec offices or the nearest off-site registration centers near their residences. Comelec Resolution 10214 sets the new round of continuing voter registration from November 6 to November 30, 2017 in preparation for the May 14, 2018 village and youth polls. Section 8 of Republic Act (RA) 8189 or The Voters Registration Act of 1996 provides for a system of continuing registration of voters. According to latest data from the Election and Barangay Affairs Department, 496,816 applications were received nationwide from November 6 to 25, 2017. This number is expected to increase considerably as more people rush to register during the last two days of registration. RA 10952, signed by President Duterte on October 2, postponed again the village and youth polls from October 23 , 2017 to the second Monday of May 2018.

DOST- FUNDED TECHNOLOGY TO HELP KEEP SIARGAO WATER SAFE

SAFE water may be the next attraction in Siargao as the island puts on board the eco- friendly Septic Tank System or Eco- sep. This technology consists of a septic water management system that addresses the problem of untreated wastewater in resorts, public establishments and households. Launched in Siargao last September, the Eco- sep technology is installed in three pilot sites, namely General Luna Market, General Luna High School and Traveler’s Beach Resort. “Samples collected from these sites will serve as a baseline for the DoST [ Department of Science and Technology] to encourage resort owners, LGUs [ local government units] and households to adopt the technology in our campaign [ as part of the project],” according to engineer Noel Ajoc, project coordinator. Dr. Merlinda Palencia, developer of the Eco- sep technology, explained that the Eco- sep system deployed in the pilot sites contains Vigormin, an organomineral that hastens the decomposition of harmful bacteria that lodge in septic tanks. Vigormin prevents bacteria from escaping from the tank, thus avoiding contamination of wastewater in sewage systems. Palencia noted that the Eco- sep system will be very efficient in Siargao. Most septic tanks on the island have a bottomless design, which allows wastewater to quickly seep through the ground. This poses higher risk of contamination in freshwater and seawater.