Comelec appeals anew to public: Go out and register

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (28 August) — The Commission on Elections has reiterated its appeal to the public to register or validate their registration at Comelec offices.

Dagupan City election officer lawyer Remarque Ravanzo told the Engkwentro forum at the Lenox Hotel Wednesday that only few new registrants so far have been trooping to the Comelec office in the city. “Siguro dahil nasa school pa ang ating mga kabataan kaya kokonti pa sa kanila ang nagpaparehistro,” he noted.

Comelec offices, he said, are open Mondays to Saturdays and even on holidays to accommodate new voters and those who want their registrations validated. Deadline is on October 31 this year.

He also asked the support of the media especially broadcast to continue reminding the people about the need to register or validate. Those who failed to vote in the last two elections need to register anew as their names, he pointed out, have already been removed from the list of voters.

He clarified that those who failed to validate their registrations can still vote in the May elections next year.

Asked if the poll body would have enough time to prepare for the automated elections next year, Ravanzo said that Comelec is following a timetable for various activities to include training for teachers who will man the precincts as well as information and education activities for the public. “May mga public demos na gagawin,” he disclosed.

On teachers who will man the precincts, he said he prefers those who are still young and receptive to technology. “Kinausap ko na si superintendent tungkol dito,” he said.

“Please give chance to the automated elections,” he urged the mediamen present in reaction to queries and negative comments as well fears in connection with the first nationwide computerized polls in the country. He said that the first concern of local election officers is the security of the machines. “Let’s leave technical matters to TIM-Smartmatic and Comelec,” he said.

Told about the concern of many voters who have not received their identification cards yet, he noted that he himself has not received his, pointing out that the last delivery of voter IDs was about three years ago. “Nakatutok sa automation kasi ang Comelec ngayon,” he said. (PIA Pangasinan)