Only 18 brgys endorsed as EWAs

TAGBILARAN CITY — A total of 18 barangays only in 10 towns of Bohol have been recommended to be placed under the election watchlist areas (EWAs) in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.

The Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) endorsed the 18 barangays to the Provincial Joint Security Control Council (PJSCC) led by Provincial Elections Supervisor Eliseo Labaria during the command conference last week.

PJSCC is also composed of Lt. Col. Joel Malig, commander of the 47th Infantry Battalion based in Tubigon town, Bohol Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Angeles Genorga Jr., Department of Education Superintendent Nimfa Bongo, and division superintendent Virginia Zapanta, among others.

The barangays recommended for EWA are: Cabacnitan in Batuan town; Poblacion in Bilar; Bantuan, Cawag, Bonot-bonot, Baluarte, and Nueva Montania in Buenavista; Mataub and Bonbon in Clarin; Cabatuan in Danao; Cagawitan and Mahayag in Dagohoy; Ilaud, Cuaming, and Banahaw in Inabanga; Cagawasan in Pilar; Macaas in Tubigon; and Achila in Ubay.

Meanwhile, Comelec-Bohol said it is 90 percent ready for the conduct of the elections, provincial election supervisor Eliseo Labaria said during the command conference.

Labaria said ballot boxes arrived here sometime last week ready for 1,066 voting centers with 2,706 clustered precincts in 1,109 barangays of 47 towns and Tagbilaran. The ballot boxes will be delivered to their destination a day before the elections.

A total of 2,066 are running for barangay chairpersons; 15,481 for barangay councilpersons; 2,042 for SK chairpersons, and 8,630 for SK councilpersons. A total of 838,533 registered voters are expected to cast their votes for barangay posts and 319,546 voters for SK posts, Comelec said.

To man the conduct of the voting, Comelec hired some 7,835 public school teachers; 124 private school teachers; 168 private individuals, who will compose the Board of Election Tellers.