THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday called on residents of Negros Oriental to attend the scheduled public hearings next week that will tackle proposals to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the province.
In a phone interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body will need to hear the voice of the people before deciding whether to postpone the October 30 polls in the province or not.
“It’s them that should tell us whether to proceed or not with the elections. We want to know the truth,” said Garcia.
Last April, Sen. Francis Tolentino proposed the postponement of the BSKE in Negros Oriental to provide momentum in ongoing peacekeeping efforts in the area.
The call comes on the heels of the political killings in the province, including the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
In response, the Comelec has set a three-day simultaneous public hearing across the different cities and municipalities of the province from June 27 to 29.
For June 27, the public hearings are set in Canlaon City (8 a.m., 3rd Floor PDO Building, St. Joseph Parish, Brgy. Mabigo, Canlaon City), Vallehermoso (2 p.m., Vallehermoso gymnasium, Brgy. Poblacion, Vallehermoso), Tayasan (8 a.m., Public Market function room, Brgy. Poblacion, Tayasan), Ayungon (2 p.m., Ayungon municipal gymnasium, Brgy. Poblacion, Ayungon), Bais City (8 a.m., Bais City evacuation center and gymnasium, Brgy Poblacion, Bais City),
Pamplona (2 p.m., Pamplona Gymnasium, Brgy. Poblacion, Pamplona), Sibulan (8 a.m., Sibulan gymnasium and evacuation center, Brgy. Poblacion, Sibulan), Dumaguete City (2 p.m., Lamberto L. Macias Sports and Cultural Complex, Brgy. Taclobo, Dumaguete City), Zamboanguita (8 a.m., Gabaldon Building, Zamboanguita Central Elementary School, Poblacion, Zamboanguita), and Siaton (2 p.m., function hall of the Public Market Building, Poblacion I, Siaton).
The public hearings on June 28 will be held in Guihulngan City (8 a.m., City Gymnasium, Brgy. Poblacion, Guihulngan City), La Libertad (2 p.m., La Libertad Convention Center, Brgy. South Poblacion, La Libertad), Bindoy (8 a.m., Municipal Gymnasium, Brgy. Poblacion, Bindoy), Manjuyod (2 p.m., Manjuyod Municipal Quadrangle, Brgy. Poblacion, Manjuyod), Tanjay City (8 a.m., Osmeña Park, Brgy. II, Tanjay City), Amlan (2 p.m., Amlan Central Square (Plaza), Brgy. Poblacion, Amlan), Valencia (8 a.m., municipal gymnasium and Evacuation Center, Brgy. South Poblacion, Valencia), Bacong (2 p.m., Bacong Municipal Audituriom, West Poblacion, Bacong), Santa Catalina (8 a.m., municipal gymnasium, Poblacion, Santa Catalina), and Bayawan City (2 p.m., Bayawan City-Norsu Arena, National Highway, Brgy. Villareal, Bayawan City).
Public hearings will also be held on June 29 in Jimalalud (8 a.m., Judge Restituto V. Tuanda Sports and Cultural Complex Brgy. South Poblacion, Jimalalud), Mabinay (8 a.m., Cong Pavilion Hall, Brgy. Poblacion, Mabinay), San Jose (8 a.m., Villanueva Gymnasium, Brgy. Poblacion, San Jose), Dauin (8 a.m., Dauin municipal gym, Brgy. Poblacion II, Dauin), and Basay (8 a.m., covered court, Brgy. Poblacion, Basay).
The Commission is looking to decide on the proposal around the 1st week of October 2023.
The village and youth polls is set to be held nationwide on October 30.
