PUERTO PRINCESA – Palawan Governor Jose Chaves Alvarez reiterated the readiness of the provincial government to conduct the plebiscite for the proposed creation of three provinces here.
In an online press briefing, Alvarez said that plebiscite, which was supposed to be held last May 11, will be still he held depending on the recommendation of Commission on Elections (Comelec), and based on Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines.
He said that they were waiting for the schedule that will released by the Comelec.
“Dahil ‘yan ay batas na, walang makakapigil nyan, ang makakapigil lang dyan ay ‘yong petition ng mga taga city na dinala nila sa Supreme Court dahil unconstitutional daw pero napagpasyahan na ‘yon. Dahil may pandemic pinospostphone ng Comelec ang plebisito, but as soon as pandemic subsided, the Comelec will schedule a new date in order to do it,” he said.
“But the Comelec have to refer this with the IATF dahil hindi lang ito bastang health emergency, hindi natin nakikita ang kalaban,” Alvarez added.
He said other agencies concerned, such as Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Health (DOH), were also prepared in case the plebiscite will be conducted amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Nakuha na natin ang DepEd, PNP, DILG at handa na sila. Lastly ay ‘yong DOH, they are willing to conduct plebiscite agad nakakamask lahat. Hindi ka rin naman aabot ng matagal doon kasi yes or no lang, kunti din ang boboto siguro. Mangyayari talaga ang plebisito at COMELEC lang ang magtatakda ng petsa,” he said.
Palawan, which is currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), may also be allowed to conduct election while implementing minimum health standards, he said.
He that voters do not need to stay long in the precinct because all they need to do is to choose between yes or no.
“In fact ngayon ay pwede na tayo dahil MGCQ na may flights na at yong covid recovery natin ay very remarkable. Sa Palawan ay walang namamatay sa COVID-19 except doon na isang may sakit na talaga. Ang sekreto lang naman sa COVID-19 ay isolation lang talaga,” Alvarez said.
Comelec had earlier decided to defer the holding of the plebiscite on the division of Palawan to a later date “when the COVID-19 situation in the province improves.”
https://mb.com.ph/2020/09/04/palawan-ready-for-plebiscite-to-create-3-provinces/
