ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready for the influx of voter registrants who wish to exercise their right to suffrage in next year’s national and local elections.
Voter registration starts this Monday, Feb. 12, until Sept. 30. Comelec offices are open on Saturdays, including holidays, except over the Lent Season (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. without a noon break.
Jonathan Sayno, Election Assistant II of Comelec-Iloilo City, said they have already set up their office at Angeles Arcade on De Leon-Mabini streets, City Proper.
“All set na, naka-set up na kami sang amon nga machines nga kinahanglan sa resumption of voter registration nga mabukas bwas nga adlaw,” Sayno told Panay News on Sunday morning, Feb. 11.
He explained that, in the meantime, voter registration will be held at their office. But once the venue for their satellite registration is finalized, they will announce it along with the schedule.
Most of the venues for satellite registration are malls, which are accessible to many.
“Kon may ara kita sang satellite registration, wala kita sang registration sa opisina. So, kon may makadto sa opisina itudlo gid naton kon diin ipahamtang ang satellite registration,” he added.
Those who wish to register should bring a valid government-issued identification card. The Comelec emphasized that it will not accept company-issued IDs.
It would be more helpful if the applicant brought an accomplished registration form to speed up the process.
Applicants may visit Comelec’s website at https://comelec.gov.ph/ or visit the office of the city or municipal election officer as early as possible to secure the form.
Sayno explained that aside from the application for registration, the Comelec accepts other applications such as those for transfer of residence, reactivation, correction of entry, and change of status, among others.
Who May Register?
Any Filipino citizen who is not yet a registered voter may apply for registration, provided he/she possesses the following qualifications:
* At least 18 years old on the day of the national and local elections
* A resident of the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein he/she proposes to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the national and local elections.
* Not otherwise disqualified by law
Register Anywhere Program (RAP)
As the voters’ registration kicked off, Sayno said that the applicant is allowed to register even outside one’s place of origin or the place where he wishes to vote.
This is through Comelec’s Register Anywhere Program (RAP).
All the applicant has to do is go to the Comelec office of the nearest highly urbanized city or capital town and register with one’s place of origin.
The election officer who received the applicant’s form will forward it to the place of origin to be registered.
National Voters’ Day on Feb. 21
On Feb. 21, the city and province of Iloilo are set to celebrate National Voter’s Day.
According to Sayno, all city and municipal election officers in the province will be at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) Cultural Center in La Paz district to receive applications from students or those working in the city.
“Ang aton Comelec sa tagsa ka mga banwa makadto didto kag ang estudyante nga taga-banwa pero diri sa city naga-eskwela, puede kakadto didto sa WVSU kag magpa-register,” explained Sayno.
The Comelec-Iloilo, through Atty. Rainier Layson, Provincial Election Supervisor IV of Comelec-Iloilo and concurrent acting election officer of Comelec-Iloilo City, made this initiative so that the services would be closer to the students and those working in Iloilo City who do not have the time to go home./PN
