THE Commission on Elections said on Thursday it will create special polling places for indigenous people in Mindoro Occidental and Oriental that will serve as the pilot test of similar polling places in other parts of the country.
Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10080, dated March 14, the commission ordered the creation of 18 separate polling places and five accessible voting centers in a total of 21 barangays in the two neighboring provinces.
“The Comelec has approved the establishment of pilot SPPs and AVCs in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro for the 2016 elections in line with the request of the IP communities to address their issues on access and discrimination on Election Day,” the resolution said.
SPPs refer to the polling places established in existing voting centers, where qualified IP voters shall cast their votes.
AVCs, meanwhile, refer to the newly established voting centers located near the communities of the qualified IP voters, where they shall cast their votes.
Data from the Comelec Committee on IPs indicate that there are a total of 2,884 IP voters, who are included in the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List for IP, that stand to benefit from the establishment of SPPs and AVCs.
Oriental Mindoro voting centers, where SPPs will be established, are in Cassillon Minority School in Brgy. Pinagturilan, Baco; Villa Pag-Asa Elementary School in Brgy. Villa Pag-Asa, Bansud; Malo Elementary School in Brgy. Malo, Bansud; Rosacarra Elementary School in Brgy. Rosacarra, Bansud; Lisap Elementary School in Brgy. Lisap, Bongabong; Siange Elementary School in Brgy. Lisap, Bongabong; San Roque Elementary School in Brgy. San Roque, Bulalacao; Dangcalan Elementary School in Brgy. Dangcalan, Bulalacao; Manguyang Elementary School in Brgy. Manguyang, Gloria; Budburan Elementary School in Brgy. Budburan, Mansalay; Sabang Elementary School in Brgy. Sabang, Pinamalayan; Matulatula Elementary School in Brgy. Matulatula, Pola; Bugtong na Tuog Elementary School in Brgy. Bugtong na Tuog, Socorro; and So. Centro Multi-Purpose Hall in Brgy. Concepcion, Victoria.
Oriental Mindoro voting centers, where there will be AVCs, are in Cassillon Minority School for those voting in San Ignacio Elementary School in Brgy. Pinagturilan, Baco; and in Arigoy Elementary School for those voting in Paspasin Primary School in Brgy. Calangatan, San Teodoro.
Occidental Mindoro voting centers, where SPPs will be established, are in San Vicente Elementary School in Brgy. San Vicente, Abra de Ilog; Yapang Elementary School in Brgy. Batong Buhay, Sablayan; Bayotbot Elementary School in Brgy. Bayotbot, San Jose; and Baclaran Primary School in Brgy. Pinagturilan, Sta. Cruz.
Occidental Mindoro voting centers, where there will be AVCs, are in Emok Elementary School for those voting in Paclolo Elementary School in Brgy. Paclolo, Magsaysay; in Tug-Ilan Elementary School for those voting in Tayamaan Elementary School in Brgy. Tayamaan, Mamburao; and in Katuray Elementary School for those voting in Paluan Central School in Brgy. Alipaoy, Paluan.
According to the rules established by the commission en banc, voting in the special IP polling places shall still take place on May 9 with those voting in SPPs set from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; while those voting in AVCs set from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The earlier closing of voting hours in the SPPs and AVCs is to give sufficient time for the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) to bring the ballots from the SPP or AVC to the regular polling place before the close of voting hours,” the Resolution said.
