IN A logistical twist, 37 boxes of Starlink kits and solar panels for Davao City’s May 12 elections completed a round trip from a private storage in Buhangin to Tagum City and back, finally arriving at the Davao City Police Office at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 7.
The boxes were part of a larger batch of 340 units discovered at a private Dumanlas residence last Friday afternoon, April 4, raising concerns about the proper handling of election materials.
Following scrutiny from concerned citizens and media regarding the storage, the 37 Davao City-bound boxes were moved to Tagum City early Sunday morning, April 6.
However, a Comelec Central Office directive issued later that Sunday afternoon clarified their intended destination. As a result, the boxes were returned to Davao City and are currently secured by the DCPO.
The distribution of these Starlink kits and solar panels extends beyond Davao City to other parts of the Davao Region:
- Malita, Davao Occidental: 44
- IGACOS (Island Garden City of Samal): 34
- Digos City: 35
- Sulop, Davao del Sur: 19
- Don Marcelino: 14
- Jose Abad Santos: 13
- Sarangani: 11
- Caraga, Davao Oriental: 10
- Manay, Davao Oriental: 18
- Laak, Davao de Oro: 14
Additional municipalities across the region will also receive units. The kits are vital for areas with poor internet connectivity, ensuring the timely transmission of election results and the printing of necessary election returns.
