Voter registration hours shortened amid surge in COVID-19 cases
MANILA, Philippines — Voter registration hours will be cut short and on-site registration will be suspended beginning Monday, March 22, the Commission on Elections announced amid the recent surge in coronavirus cases in the country.
Comelec in a release over the weekend said its offices will only accept registration from Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It came after the poll body extended the hours to 5 p.m. and included holidays just last month, in a bid for a higher turnout in the 2022 elections which is just 14 months from now.
The issuing of voter's certification, however, will still be until 5 p.m, and the registration period will still end on Sept. 30, 2021.
"The public is reminded that health and safety protocols will continue to be strictly implemented in Comelec offices," said spokesperson James Jimenez. "Wearing of face mask and face shield is mandatory."
On-site registration in barangay halls, daycare centers, covered courts and other satellite offices across the country has also been put on hold until further notice.
Comelec said its move is also part of the executive department's order to reduce in-person capacity in government offices in general community quarantine areas, as the country continued to report significant increase in daily COVID-19 cases.
The last two days saw health officials reporting the highest new infections since the start of the pandemic at over 7,000 and nearly 8,00, with the surge yet to show signs of slowing down.
Despite the shortening of registration hours, Jimenez sought to remind of how crucial the next elections would be as the Philippines continues to battle the health crisis.
"There's always been hope," he wrote on Twitter. "All you really need is to accept that elections are won by the voters who show up - not just by your angry or inspirational or clever or insightful posts on social media."
Get the latest updates on the Philippines' preparation for the May 2022 national elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Main image by The STAR/Michael Varcas
Local executives are optimistic of peaceful elections on Monday in North Cotabato and Basilan provinces.
North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza says Saturday she is thankful to the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division and units of the Eastern Mindanao Command in the province for supporting extensively the efforts of the Commission on Elections to ensure the safety of polling activities on Monday.
“We are also thankful to the Cotabato Provincial Police Office and the Police Regional Office-12 for their initiatives towards that goal. We are looking forward to a peaceful electoral exercise in our province on Monday,” Mendoza says. — The STAR/John Unson
Comelec names Director John Rex Laudiangco as the new spokesperson of the commission, replacing James Jimenez.
May 9, election day, has been declared a special non-working holiday.
In a proclamation released Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte declared the holiday "to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote, subject to the public health measures of the national government." — report from Alexis Romero
READ: Proclamation No. 1357 declaring May 9, election day, a special non-working holiday @PhilippineStar @Philstarnews pic.twitter.com/EvUUNb8Yuf
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) May 5, 2022
The Bangsamoro police has mobilized 6,347 personnel to guard 1,195 polling sites in five provinces under its jurisdiction.
Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, says Thursday the contingent includes 706 Reaction Standby Support Force and 405 Quick Reactionary Force personnel for deployment to Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces.
Tension has markedly been high in some towns in both provinces owing to the deep-seated political animosity among local clans.
Besides Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also covers the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Lamitan, Marawi and Cotabato. — John Unson
The Commission on Election starts the distribution and conduct of the testing and sealing of the vote counting machines (VCMs) six days prior to the election day in the remote and far flung villages in Zamboanga City.
The early distribution of the VCMs was made with the authority of the Comelec central office following the recommendation of the local poll body here, says District 2 officer Atty. Stephen Roy Cañete.
“We asked permission and we were given the authority by the Comelec central office to start the distribution of the VMCs early. In case there will be glitches we still have enough time to replace the defective VCM,” Cañete says. — The STAR/Roel Pareño
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