Comelec fast tracking off-site registrations

CEBU, Philippines – With the deadline of registration of new voters approaching, the Commission on Elections in the province is working faster to register more voters.

Comelec election assistant Boy Gonnie Neis yesterday said the commission is conducting off-site registration in the different towns and cities in the province.

Neis observed that some people only register on the last day of registration, which is Oct. 31, and by conducting off-site registration, people would have no more reason not to register.

Neis said that election officers of the different towns and cities have been going around the different barangays in response to invitations from those who are willing to help Comelec in their mobilization.

The schedule of the other off-site registration includes Calero (July 17), Jubay (Juy 18), Cotcot (July 24) in Liloan – San Isidro and Dumlog (July 17), Cansojong (July 18), San Roque (July 24), Tangke (July 25), Bulacao (July 31) in Talisay City - Gimamaa (July 22) in Tuburan – Kanghalo in Dumanjug on July 24 and 25 – Bogo Public Plaza (July 17), Binabag (July 18), Libertad (July 22), Nailon (July 24), Don Pedro (July 25), Taytayan (July 29) and Cayang (July 31) in Bogo City – Arpili (July 17), Buanoy (July 25), Cambuhawe (July 28), Nangka (July 30) in Balamban.

At least three barangays and one university in Cebu City, these are Basak-San Nicolas on July 18, Guadalupe on July 25 and Basak-Pardo on August 15. There will be an off-site registration at the University of San Jose-Recoletos on July 31.

According to Neis more and more new voters go to the barangays to register. For instance in Talisay City, Neis said that only a few went to their office but with off-site registration, more than fifty percent went to the barangays to register.

In Cebu province, Comelec has registered 79,000 new voters from January to March, bringing the total number of registered voters in Cebu to 2,057,187. — Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)