MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – While the 2013 barangay elections are underway nationwide on Monday, October 28, at least 2 towns in Luzon had delays in the opening of the polls.

Official ballots and other election paraphernalia have not yet arrived in Calayan, Cagayan due to inclement weather when polls opened nationwide at 7 am. In a memorandum to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday, October 27, Catherine Bangi-Allas, provincial election supervisor of Region II, said that as of 1 pm Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard had yet to allow sea travel to Calayan Island.

Also, the election officer of Calayan was marooned in Cagayan and cannot return to the town in time to conduct the training of the Board of Election Tellers (BETs) there. He attended a Final Command Conference in Tuguegarao City on October 19.

Comelec Deputy Director for Operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr announced during the poll body’s press briefing on Monday afternoon that the polls in the main island of Calayan will be rescheduled to October 30. Meanwhile, elections in the other 3 Calayan islands (Babuyan, Camiguin and Dalupiri) will be on October 31.

There are 9,746 registered voters in 12 barangays in Calayan.

A similar case took place in 3 barangays in Vinzons, Camarines Norte.

Polls in barangay Banocboc, Pinagtigasan and Mankawayan were delayed due to late deployment of election paraphernalia. These barangays are located in the islands off the mainland.

Sinocruz said that as of 11:30 AM, voting in these barangays are ongoing.

On Monday, polling precincts for the 2013 barangay elections will close at 3 pm nationwide. In areas where polls are delayed, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said that the BETs have the discretion to accept voters who are still in line after 3 pm. – Rappler.com