MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that the simulation on voting protocols conducted over the weekend was a success.
Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations Atty. Teopisto Elnas said the operational procedure on Saturday’s simulation held in San Juan City was well executed and the minimum health standards were strictly followed.
Upon entry to the polling center, voters went through the health screening process to check their temperature.
Those with high temperatures would have to proceed to the isolation polling place to vote and would be endorsed to the health officer on stand-by.
Those who had no problem during health screening were directed to the voter’s assistance desk to check their voting precinct.
“Pagpasok nakikita natin gaano kahalaga yong mga signages at saka yong mga paalala at saka yong mga instructional ano natin posters natin to the voters natin para ma-guide ang voters natin,” Elnas said.
“At saka nakikita din natin ang kahalagan ng voters assistance desk wherein ina-assist yong mga botante in informing them kung ano yung specific cluster precinct nila, precinct sequence nila and of course yong specific location ng kanilang polling place,” he added.
An emergency accessible polling place was also set up for pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.
The voting precincts were well-ventilated and the number of voters allowed inside was limited to maintain physical distancing during the course of the simulation.
Rodrigo Dasigan, a volunteer test voter, hopes that the same discipline and order applied in the simulation will also be practiced on the actual day of the elections.
“Maganda siya, sana ganun din sa eleksyon. Magkaroon ng disiplina ang tao,” he said.
Comelec spokesperson Director James Jimenez noted how their prepared procedures have actually worked during the simulation process and how the said system will hold in the actual election day amid the pandemic.
“The next step really is to find out if they will hold up under volume. Pag dumami na yong taong gumagamit ng sistema kaya pa rin ba ng sistema? There will be other opportunities in the future to check volume,” Jimenez said.
“Sa ngayon hindi namin talaga inexpect na makikita natin yong impact ng volume. Ang point talaga natin dito is to see if our procedures will work and, so far, they have worked,” he further noted. —/mbmf (from the report of UNTV Correspondent Dante Amento)
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