1st day of voter registration: Good turnout in Central Visayas cities - Comelec

CEBU, Philippines — The start of the national voters’ registration yesterday, Feb. 12, 2024, saw a huge number of registrants in the cities in Central Visayas, says Commission on Election (Comelec)-7 Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano.

“Blockbuster gyud sa mga cities, daghan gyug mga tawo. Sa mga municipalities, based sa among monitoring, dili ing-ani, but naa sad gyud. Wala ta ma zero,” said Castillano in an interview with reporters yesterday.

With yesterday’s positive outcome, Castillano said he can say that their information dissemination was effective considering that they also had a voters’ registration prior to the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan(SK) Elections last October 30, 2023.

“It goes to show that the voters’ of our office especially from COMELEC Manila is effective, even though bag-o pa lang ta nag BSKE, prior to that we also had registration. Naa pa gyud diay tay mga wala ma rehistro,” Castillano said.

Some field offices also had their own “gimmick” to entice new registrants, like giving several kilos of rice for the first 20 registrants or free face masks, vitamins and chocolates, and free blood pressure checkups, among others.

Based on Comelec’s data, there was a good mix of early registrants, with some being new voters, some were transferees, while others were out to update their information or re-activate their registration.

The Comelec is open for registration until September 30, 2024 in time for the midterm elections in May 2025.

Comelec offices are open during weekdays and Saturdays, except on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

“This would cover new registrants, katong wapa gyud na rehistro sukad, including katong mag dise-otso in time sa election—17 na karon but on election day, Mayo next year, you would be 18, pwede ka murehistro. Magda lang kag photocopy sa imong birth certificate. We would also include katong mga mag pa transfer from one municipality to another, re-activate katong wala naka botar pag Mayo sa niaging election and in the October BSKE or the two successive election, matang-tang imong ngan ana,” said Castillano.

Those that have voted in the last BSKE who are already turning 18 in the next elections, however, need not register again.

“SK-registered that are turning 18 soon, dili na kinahanglan morehistro, kami ray mobalhin sa inyong registration from the SK voters’ list to the regular voters’ list,” said Castillano.

Comelec will also accommodate correction of entries following change of status, correction of birthdays, or transfer from being overseas absentee voters to back to one’s hometown.

Senior citizens who also want to transfer polling places via the accessible polling place may also do so.

“Pwede pud mag pa update sa ilang registration para maka avail for the accessible polling place labi na sa Cebu City, I would encourage that—many of the polling places are in the upper level,” Castillano added.

Further, Comelec-7 is expecting a huge influx of voter registration within the next two weeks and in September again.

During the lean season, Comelec-7 will be conducting an offsite or satellite registration in mountain barangays, island barangays, and in malls.

Castillano said highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu plus Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental and Siquijor will also be implementing the “Register anywhere” project of Comelec.

“Naa tay bag-o nga innovation nga gitawag ug register anywhere project. Kani pagahimoon sa atong mga highly urbanized cities, including capital, towns and cities…pwde na sila maka conduct. But himuon ni at least once a month,” Castillano said, adding that this will be done in selected malls.

This is to give those working in other cities but wish to vote in their hometown provinces to register even without going home.

“Inig rehistro nila didto, katong mga tawo nga dili maka uli sa ilang probinsya, dili ka uli sa ilang mga munisipyo pwede didto mu rehistro sa register anywhere project. Ato silang tagaag higayon ang mga nag trabaho,” explained Castillano.

For more updates, one can also follow Comelec social media pages of his/her city as the agency is also encouraging those with access to the internet to download the registration forms at comelec.gov.ph. Only one copy is needed right now and no longer three.

Castillano also disclosed that at the start of the national voters’ registration day, the Comelec has suspended indefinitely the payment for the voter’s certification.

“We will be giving now our voters certification for free. Suspended until further notice para pag hatag sa mga katawhan labi na sa mga senior citizens, libre nga serbisyo,” said Castillano. — (FREEMAN)