The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to implement adjustment on the schedule and venue of the ongoing voters registration to meet its four million new voters target.
Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she is just waiting for the decision of the Comelec en banc on her suggestion to extend the registration hours as well the holding of the registration in barangays.
“I have a suggestion to the en banc this Wednesday to extend the region hours. We will go overtime, since we are lacking time, we only have 12 months to reach three million,” she said in a radio interview on Monday.
Voter registration is conducted from Mondays to Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at all Office of Election Officers (OEOs) nationwide.
Guanzon added that she will talk with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to discuss if they can allow Filipinos abroad to register online.
“As for overseas voting, where I’m the commissioner in charge. The DFA and I will talk if we can allow them to register since they already have their biometrics in their passports so that they do not need to go to the embassy or consulate,” she said.
Guanzon added they are also waiting for the decision of the Commission en banc on when they can start the registration in barangays.
“We’re just waiting for the en banc decision on when the barangay registration will begin. This is what we call, barangay satellite registration. I suggested to the en banc, those areas with zero local transmission of local government maybe we can hold barangay satellite registration there,” she said.
She believes the people in the barangays are waiting for her proposal “since they no longer need to ride a jeepney since riding a jeepney there is a risk”.
“They are probably waiting for barangay registration,” she added.
As of Monday, she said there are only 1.117 million applicants for registration.
At the same time, Guanzon reminded those who will register to strictly follow the health protocols by always wearing face mask and face shield and also bring their own ballpen.
The voter registration period has resumed on Sept. 1, 2020 and will run until Sept. 30, 2021. (PNA)
