BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Elections continues to encourage the public to register now as there is no order for the extension of the voter registration which deadline is on January 31, 2023.
COMELEC-Baguio Election Officer Atty. John Paul Martin calls on qualified registrants for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan set on October 2023 to take time to register now to avoid the last day or last minute rush.
“Iwasan na po natin ang pagdagsa sa last day ng voter registration para maiwasan ang mahabang pila at sa huli baka may hindi ma accommodate,” Martin said.
He discourages the practice of many Filipinos of beating the deadline where in registrants flock to registration sites causing long queues. Some end up not being registered because they are not accommodated on the last day of registration or they cannot bear with the long line of registrants.
Registration is being done daily at Comelec Offices from 8:00-5:00pm every Monday to Saturday.
The COMELEC has opened offsite registration sites to reach out to more registrants. In Baguio City, the COMELEC opened offsite registration at the 3rd Floor of the SM City Baguio to cater to more registrants particularly those who are going to the mall for errands and other activities.
Other COMELEC offices also opened offsite registration site in the different barangays or areas of convergence. The public is encouraged to visit the respective COMELEC social media sites for the schedules and venues of offsite voter registration.
The voter registration accommodates new registration, transfer, reactivation of records, reinstatement and correction of record entries.
For the barangay election, applicants should be 18 years old and above, Filipinos residing in the Philippines for at least one year, and residing in the area where he/she is looking to get registered for at least six months prior to Election Day.
For the SK, applicants must be Filipino aged between 15 to 30 years old, and residing in the area where he/she is looking to get registered for at least six months prior to Election Day.
Registrants are advised to bring with them identification documents like birth, baptismal or marriage certificate and valid ID such as such as the National ID (PhilSys), passport, driver’s license, employment ID, student ID or library card signed by the management of the school, college or university, Senior Citizens ID, Person with Disability ID, Indigenous Peoples Certificate from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, or notarized barangay certification with applicant’s photo and signature.
Martin reiterated that COMELEC Chairman George Garcia made an announcement earlier this month that the extension of the voter registration beyond the January 31 deadline is unlikely as the matter has not been tackled in any of the deliberations by the poll body en banc. (JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR)
