SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Feb. 16 (PIA)— In a move to empower young Filipinos and boost civic engagement, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Ilocos Region launched its voter registration drive at the La Union National High School (LUNHS) here on Monday.
 
This marks the first off-site registration activity of the year in the city, bringing the process directly to students and making it more accessible.
 
Comelec Regional Election Director Noli Pipo said that one of the reasons they bring voter registration to public high schools is to reach and cater to more senior high school students who will turn 18 on the day of the election.
 
Director Pipo also said they are eyeing to stage voter registration in every public senior high school across Region 1.
 
“Nandito tayo [in school where there is] senior high school, ‘yong mga schools na may senior high school, karamihan sa kanila 17 na ngayon or by next year May. That’s why ang target po natin ay ‘yong voters na makapag-avail ng registration and we are doing the best we could to make it [ voter registration] to the applicants,”  he added.
 
(We are here [in school where there is] senior high school, those schools that have a senior high school, most of them are 17 now or by next year May. That's why our target is those voters who can avail of registration and we are doing the best we could to make it [voter registration] to the applicants.)
 
The Comelec field offices also plan to put up more off-site registration desks and make them inclusive for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), indigenous people (IPs), and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), among others.
 
The start of the voter registration on February 12 also marks the nation’s first National Voters Day.
 
COMELEC made this declaration of National Voters Day to emphasize the importance of being a registered voter as they can exercise their right to suffrage and to explain the processes of registration and elections to the Filipino people.
 
Jernelle Cudiamat, a first-time registrant from San Fernando City, encouraged other youth to register.
 
“Magpa-register na rin sila kasi mahalaga ‘yun para makapag-vote na rin sila. Madali lang naman magpa-register, no hassle,” she added.
 
(They should also register because they need to be able to vote. It's easy to register, no hassle). (JCR/AMB/REB/PIA Region 1)