Metro Manila LGUs want to reschedule voter registration amid pandemic

SATELLITE REGISTRANTS From serious shopping to getting serious with their voting rights, these mall-goers fill up Commission on Elections (Comelec) forms at a Taguig mall. The Comelec set up satellite registration booths in several malls to reach out to more voters as part of its preparation for the May 2016 national election. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — Local governments in Metro Manila will ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to postpone the voters’ registration to a later date amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

In a televised Palace press briefing Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Metro Manila mayors want Comelec to move the resumption of the voter registration to January 2021 or when the capital region eased to the most lenient modified general community quarantine (MGCQ)—whichever will take place first.

Metro Manila, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) until September 30.

Voter registration resumed Monday nationwide, subject to the minimum health standards against the coronavirus disease.

Aside from this, Roque said Metro Manila mayors also agreed to shorten the curfew hours in the entire region.

From 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew during the modified lockdown, the curfew will now start at 10 p.m.

The new curfew hours will take effect today, September 1 except for the cities of Muntinlupa and Navotas.

“Pinaikli na po ang curfew hours simula ngayong araw. Ang 8pm na curfew naging 10 pm na po at ang curfew ay hanggang 5am in the morning. Meron lang pong dalawang siyudad na hindi 10 to 5 ang kanilang curfew, sa Muntinlupa po it is 10 to 4 kasi meron silang ordinansa at sa Navotas 8 to 5 pa rin po ang kanilang curfew sa Navotas,” Roque said.

(Curfew hours have been shortened starting today. The 8 p.m. curfew becomes 10 p.m. and the curfew will be until 5 a.m. There were only two cities that are not going to follow the 10 to 5 curfew hours, in Muntinlupa is 10 to 4 because the city has its own ordinance while in Navotas curfew hours will still be 8 to 5.)

JPV