PNP AgNor secures COMELEC final testing, sealing of VCM
By SPO1 Darlin Cabalinan-Migullas
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) - The Commission on
Election (COMELEC) Agusan conducted a simultaneous Final Testing and Sealing
(FTS) of Vote Counting Machines (VCM) Thursday morning, May 5, four days before
the election day in the different polling precincts in Agusan del Norte.
The purpose of the FTS is to test how the VCMs
function, including their accuracy, security and completeness. During the FTS,
the COMELEC conducted an end-to-end test of the process, from the
initialization of the machines, casting of sample votes, to the feeding of the
accomplished ballots to the VCMs, and until the printing of election returns
(ERs).
The PNP personnel of Agusan del Norte Police
Provincial Office (ADN PPO) together with other security forces has safely
transported the 368 VCMs representing 100 percent of the total VCMs within the
area of responsibility of Agusan del Norte.
The PNP perseveres its efforts to maintain
transparency and integrity in the safekeeping of the ballots, VCMs and other
election paraphernalia in order to prevent election mischief.
Last Monday, May 2, ADN PPO leadership reminded
its personnel to firmly implement security measures for safe, orderly and
nonpartisan elections.
Thus, PNP encourages them to report any
election-related incident to the nearest police station or through social media
(Facebook Page – Adnppo PIO and hotline number: 09399231772). (PNP-Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Mindanao power monitoring body expects better
power on Monday polls
DAVAO CITY, May 6 (PIA) – The Mindanao Power
Monitoring Committee (MPMC) expects better supply situation in the Mindanao
grid during the conduct of the 2016 national and local elections, according to
a statement released to the media on Friday.
Chaired by the Mindanao Development Authority
(MinDA), MPMC assured the public that adequate measures were put in place, in
accordance with the Department Circular No. 2016-01-001 released by the
Department of Energy (DOE) which created the Power Task Force Election (PTFE)
2016 to ensure adequate and reliable electric power supply before, during, and
after the May 9, 2016 elections.
In the circular, DOE which also co-chairs the
MPMC, has been deputized to “primarily provide and maintain stable and
continuous nationwide electric power requirements on May 2, 2016 until the
termination or conclusion of the canvassing of votes and the proclamation of
the winning candidates.”
“However, in the case of Mindanao, the PTFE
adjusted the period to start May 6 instead of May 2 considering that hydro
power plants, Mindanao’s major source of power supply are still struggling from
El NiΓ±o-induced generation shortfall,” said Romeo Montenegro, head of the MPMC
Technical Working Group and director of the MinDA Investment Promotions and
Public Affairs Office.
He explained however that starting Friday this
week Mindanao will enjoy a more steady supply of power and will experience
extremely minimal or zero power interruptions.
Despite the toppling of Tower 25 in Lanao del Sur
Tuesday night, Montenegro stressed there's no reason to raise any alarm in so
far as power situation is concerned as supply availability in the Mindanao grid
is assured at least three days before and three days after the polls. "But
we urge vigilance as toppling of transmission towers can pose power supply
disruption and subsequent service interruption," he added.
In a recent series of briefing, the National Grid
Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that the Mindanao Grid’s
available capacity or supply is expected to be 1,736 megawatts (MW) from May 8
to 10. Gross reserves of the island is also expected to be at 383 MW on May 8,
around 373 MW on May 9, and 254 MW on May 10.
The increase in the available capacity will be
made possible with the measures implemented by the members of the PTFE like
increasing the water outflow of the Agus and Pulangi Hydropower plants and the
postponement of planned maintenance shutdown of some power generators prior,
during, and after the elections.
Since early this year, DOE has been coordinating
with the members of the PTFE to ensure the reliability and stability of not
only the Mindanao Power Grid but also of the whole country. The task force is
headed by DOE with NGCP heading the command post or operations center. Members
include the National Electrification Authority (NEA), National Power
Corporation (Napocor), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM),
National Transmission Corporation (Transco), Philippine Electricity Market
Corporation (PEMC), and the power distributors and electric cooperatives.
(MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
