ILOILO City – No more extension unless ordered by law.
This was underscored by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as it urges Western Visayans who are yet to register for the May 2022 national and local polls to take advantage of the remaining three days.
“Masikip ‘yong timeline natin,” said Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, director of Comelec-6, in an interview with Panay News.
According to Balisado, giving Western Visayans more time to register may not be favorable for them.
An extension, he said, may impede the poll body’s timeline, especially in the preparation of election paraphernalia, such as the printing of ballots that still needs to be subject to bidding.
Voters’ registration, set to end this Thursday, is Comelec’s “backbone”, according to Balisado.
“‘Pag iyon ang ma-delay, delay lahat ng trabaho (ng Comelec),” he said.
Though he was aware of calls for an extension from lawmakers, local chief executives and groups, Balisado said until there is no law telling the Comelec to make adjustments, the deadline will remain.
“Hopefully our people will understand,” Balisado said.
For Balisado, Filipinos were also given enough time to register after the May 2019 elections.
Filipinos have been calling for an extension, especially from those areas affected by community quarantine lockdowns that forced Comelec offices to stop the voters’ registration.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas previously wrote the Comelec en banc, pointing out many potential voters are yet to register.
On Monday, the Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2408 on third and final reading, seeking voters’ registration extension until Oct. 31.
A similar measure has been approved on second reading in the House of Representatives.
Last week, spokesperson James Jimenez said Comelec’s management committee (ManCom) will consult all its poll body officials before submitting a recommendation to the en banc.
Jimenez said the en banc would decide on or before Sept. 29, a day before the voters’ registration deadline.
Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 27, Comelec-6 processed 477,236 applications including voters’ registration, re-activation, transfer of residence, change of name, and correction of entry, among others.
Here’s the breakdown of the applications:
* Aklan – 39,674
* Antique – 34,579
* Capiz – 52,934
* Guimaras – 11,414
* Iloilo – 150,347
* Negros Occidental – 188,288
Balisado noted mostly applied for voters’ registration.
“Magparehistro talaga so they can exercise their right to vote,” said Balisado.
Comelec requires from first time voters a valid identification card, or a school ID or birth certificate indicating age.
Those turning 18 years old are also allowed to register on or before the May 9, 2022 elections.
On the other hand, while Comelec-6 wanted, pandemic-induced restrictions are forcing them to limit the number of applicants per day.
In Iloilo City, only more or less 1,200 applications are being processed while 400 in each election office in Iloilo province.
Increasing the number of applications per day may put not only the personnel but the people at risk, according to Balisado.
“Kung tatamaan ng COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) ang isa sa mga tao natin what will happen? Magko-close tayo ng dalawa or three days,” said Balisado./PN
