The Commission on Election (Comelec) has deputized the
Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP)
to assist the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in repairing and
maintaining its transmission towers to ensure sufficient supply of electricity
in Mindanao on Election Day.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 10067, the primary role
of the PNP and AFP is to provide security to NGCP personnel in fixing
transmission towers located in the southern part of the country.
“The Commission resolves... to provide sufficient personnel
to secure the nationwide transmission lines, substations, and other related
power facilities,” said the decision issued on March 1.
The poll body added, “...Provide assistance to and
coordinate with the NGCP to implement clearing of the nationwide transmission
facilities to include substations, towers and other related power facilities,
in support of its systems operations functions."
The Department of Energy (DOE) and NGCP has sought the
assistance of the Comelec for them to be able to conduct the needed works
repair at the transmission towers.
It was reported that some bombings of transmission towers
were recorded in the region and the failure of landowners to allow the entry of
NGCP personnel to repair damaged towers, equipment and facilities as well as in
conducting preventive maintenance activities in their facilities.
The DOE and NGCP noted that failure to repair and provide
maintenance to the power lines might affect the supply of power on May 9.
“Whereas, there is an urgent need to provide support to the
DOE and NGCP to ensure the sufficient uninterrupted electrical power supply and
secure the transmission infrastructure and facilities during the elections,”
the poll body added.
For his part, Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said
they issued the resolution to give both agencies the chance to conduct the
needed works in their facilities since the next elections is near.
"Now that we are in the Election Period, and these
areas contain vital facilities, the State has the powers to enter these private
properties but with facilities with public interests,” he said.
The Comelec chief also warned those who will continue to
reject NGCP personnel looking to repair the towers can be held liable for
committing an election offense, which carries a penalty of one to six years
imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from holding
public office.
The vote counting machines (VCMs) to be used in the May
national and local polls each have a battery supply that will last for 14 to 15
hours while each voting center has been assigned one generator set.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=863030
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