Manila, May 1 -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have forged a partnership to ensure the safe conduct of the May 12 national and local elections in local government units (LGUs) affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island.

The collaboration was formalized in a memorandum of agreement signed between OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno and Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall here Thursday afternoon.

"Ang OCD ay buong puso na makikipag-partner at makikipagtulungan sa Comelec. Ang ating pagboto, ang kahalagahan niyan kahit magkakaroon tayo ng kalamidad hindi po puede 'yan maantala dahil ang boto ng bawat isang mamamayan ay napak...