The Quezon City Government is all set for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to be held in 169 polling precincts.
Mayor Joy Belmonte lauded the relevant government agencies and QC Government departments such as the City Treasurer’s Office for leaving no stone unturned to ensure that QCitizens in 142 barangays can safely exercise their right to vote.
“Rest assured that the local government of Quezon City will continue to support every political exercise, most especially the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno at mga departamento ng City Hall na nagtutulong-tulong upang maging matagumpay at maayos itong local elections sa QC,” Mayor Belmonte said.
A first in QC, three malls in different districts will serve as polling precincts. Among these are SM City North Edsa in District 1, Robinsons Magnolia in District 4, and in SM City Fairview in District 5.
Then, three polling centers in District 6 will be part of COMELEC’s pilot testing for an automated BSKE 2023 using Vote Counting Machines (VCMs). These are in Pasong Tamo Elementary School, Judge Feliciano Belmonte Senior High School, and in CBE Town Covered Court.
About 550 jeepneys were hired by the QC government alongside 170 city-owned vehicles to provide transportation during the distribution and retrieval operations of COMELEC’s ballot boxes and election paraphernalia. These will also serve as the service for teachers, poll clerks, CTO’s 587 deployed personnel, and relevant personnel.
Before and during the polls on Monday, October 30, the Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD) will be deploying a total of 887 personnel to provide traffic assistance, monitoring, and traffic escorts while 390 personnel from the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) will provide security, escort, and monitoring alongside 372 members of the Quezon City Police District.
According to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology about 666 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are scheduled to exercise their right to vote in QC.
UNDAS 2023
While the BSKE 2023 is underway, the annual Oplan Kaluluwa of the QC Government has been activated to ensure the safety of QCitizens who will visit their loved ones in public and private cemeteries and columbaries from October 29 to November 2.
Some of the largest public and private cemeteries in QC will be manned by hundreds of personnel from the QC Law and Order Cluster. These are the Manila North Cemetery in A. Bonifacio, San Juan Cemetery in Col. Bonny Serano, the Himalayang Pilipino in Himlayan Road, and the Recuerdo Memorial Gardens near Payatas.
Other cemeteries located near Quirino Highway are the Eternal Garden Memorial Park, Novaliches Cemetery, Holy Cross Memorial Park, and the Bagbag Cemetery.
According to the TTMD, more than 600 personnel will be deployed from morning to evening, while DPOS will assign about 300 officers.
Interment operations in public cemeteries and columbaries are suspended from October 31 to November 2, 2023. This will resume on November 3, 2023.
Moreover, the cleaning and painting of tombs and graves will also be halted on October 30 at 5:00 p.m.
Bagbag Cemetery and Novaliches Cemetery will be open from October 31 to November 2 from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Baesa Columbarium is closed except for scheduled cremations. There will be no private parking inside cemeteries and columbariums.
Furthermore, vendors and micro-enterprises are allowed to operate outside the cemeteries during Undas. They will be monitored by the Market Development and Administration Department.
The QC Government advises the public to avoid visiting cemeteries if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Prohibited items inside cemeteries and columbariums are firearms, sharp objects, liquor, cards or dice for gambling, and loudspeakers.
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