The Commission on Elections Baguio is encouraging voters to patronize the ongoing off-site registration arranged by the office for the barangay and SK elections in October, saying extension of the initiative is not likely.
The Comelec-Baguio has opened a registration area at the 3rd Level, Sunset Terraces of SM Baguio, which started processing applications on Jan. 3.
The off-site registration is open from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The deadline of registration is on Jan. 31.
Comelec-Baguio Election Officer John Paul Martin said as of Jan. 6, the office has processed 767 applications of which 294 applications were processed through the mall registration. The number is expected to increase in the coming weeks.
He said they target to enlist 5,000 voters.
Aside from the 294 mall applications, Comelec-Baguio processed 472 applications in December last year.
Martin added they will hold offsite registration at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Baguio on Jan. 9 from 8 to 11a.m. and at the Baguio City National High School from noon to 5 to p.m.
He said aspecial registration will also be held at SM Baguio for persons with disability on Jan. 11 and for senior citizens on Jan. 12 and 13.
The local Comelec said voters should process their applications and not wait for the last minute to register as long queues are expected in the last two weeks of this month.
“Come to our registration site this week to experience a seamless, convenient, and effortless registration process. Registration is only until Jan. 31 with a declaration from our chair that extension is unlikely,” the office said in a post in its Facebook account.
Those who intend to register must bring their ID, accomplish a registration form, and undergo biometrics capturing. Comelec started the voter registration for the barangay and SK elections on Dec. 12, 2022. The grassroots elections is set on Oct. 30.
The Comelec earlier said the registration applications to be accepted are first-time SK election voters and regular voters, transfer of voter registration record, reactivation of voting status, and correction or change of entries in the voter registration record. – Jane B. Cadalig
April 23, 2024
