Comelec registers 1.8 million voters in Region 2

Tuguegarao City (16 December) — The Commission on Election (COMELEC) Region 2 has registered the highest number of voters in the election history of Cagayan Valley.

This year’s total registered voters has reached 1.82 million in the region as compared to 1.73 million in 2007 elections, an increase of more than 87,000 voters that is dominated by young blood who will try to be one among first voters of the automated elections.

Based on their report, Isabela province posted the highest number of voters with 867,053, followed by Cagayan with 606,580, Nueva Vizcaya has 233, 331, Quirino- 106,442 and Batanes posted the smallest number of voters with only 10,194.

Because of this, Comelec sees bulk of voters in next year’s election who will try the new system of election and to exercise their rights with the hope to be able to bring change in the country’s government system.

Though the number of voters has increased, the number of clustered precincts decreased with only 3,110 as compared to 8,197 precincts in 2007 election because of the implementation of the poll automation.

Despite problems on the arrival of counting machines, COMELEC Region 2 is still very optimistic that the needed machines will reached the region early next year to be utilized in the May elections.

The COMELEC had also laid down the lists of contenders in different public offices from governor down to Sangguniang Bayan in different municipalities of Cagayan Valley.

For Governorship, Cagayan has 3 candidates; Alvaro Antonio, Manuel Mamba and Joven P. delos Santos; Isabela- Fustino G. Dy III and Ma. Gracia Cielo M. Padaca; Nueva Vizcaya- Luisa L. Cuaresma, Florante S. Gerdan and Edith Taylan, Quirino- Pedro Bacani, Junie Cua and dante C. Valencia and for Batanes – Telesforo Castillejos, Vicente de Sagon Gato and William Agsunod. (Oliver B./PIA 2)