Comelec to visit far-flung islands to increase voter registration

Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia. Senate PRIB photo / Bibo Nueva España

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday bared its plans to visit far-flung islands such as the Kalayaan, Batanes and Tawi-Tawi islands to increase the number of voter registrants.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said this in a press briefing after announcing Comelec’s plans in the first quarter of 2022.

“For your information, plano rin pong pumunta ng inyong Komisyon sa Kalayaan Islands ngayong January 14, para i-highlight ang registration ng ating mga kababayan hindi lamang sa mga lugar na nakikita ng lahat, kung hindi kahit sa mga lugar katulad ng Kalayaan Island,” he said.

(For your information, the Commission also plans to go to Kalayaan Islands this January 14, to highlight the registration of our countrymen not only in places that everyone can see, but even in places like Kalayaan Island.)

“And we also intend to go to Batanes, and at the same time to Tawi-Tawi and such other places, para mas maitaas natin ‘yung antas ng kaalaman ng mga kababayan natin na magparehistro sila at i-avail lalong lalo na ‘yung Register Anywhere Program (RAP) natin,” he added.

(To raise the level of knowledge of our countrymen to register and avail, especially our Register Anywhere Program.)

RAP is Comelec’s latest system which allows the public to register in places other than their residence from Dec. 17, 2022 to Jan. 25, 2023.

According to Garcia, Comelec chose those areas to symbolize the importance of sites with fewer registered voters.

Voter registration is set until Jan. 31, 2023.

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JPV/abc