MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Election (Comelec) initiative to let voters register anywhere is a step towards having people cast their vote in more convenient places like malls instead of schools, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday.
In a speech during the ceremonial launch of the Register Anywhere Program (RAP) site at the House of Representatives complex, Garcia said that if the program is successful and is integrated into every region, then the Comelec would explore voting inside malls and other remote areas.
This means that lesser schools would be used — preventing the usage and destruction of classrooms — and therefore preserving it for the students.
“Kasi po if it will become so successful, our intention really is to conduct a register anywhere program nationwide, sa lahat po ng regions po ninyo, ng ating bansa, plano na po namin gawin ang register anywhere project. And preparatory lang po ‘yon, naisip na rin po ng Commission na kung kaya naming magpa-register, bakit hindi rin tayo mag-pilot test ngayong barangay and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) election ng mall voting?” Garcia asked.
(If it becomes very successful, we intend to conduct a nationwide register program for all the regions in our country; we plan to launch this register anywhere project. And this is just preparatory because the Commission already thought that if we can do remote registration, why don’t we do a pilot test of mall voting during the barangay and SK elections?)
“Mas kumbinyente sa mga kababayan natin, mas alam natin na pupunta sila sa mga mall at boboto sila, hindi pa natin gagamitin ang mga eskwelahan para hindi nasisira ang mga gamit ng kabataan,” he added.
(This would be more convenient for our people as they would surely go to malls and vote, and we would no longer use schools which means we can prevent the destruction of students’ equipment.)
This would also help voters cope with the weather, given that the country’s polls are usually held in May or at the peak of the hot, dry season.
“And at the same time, mas maayos ang pagboto ng ating mga kababayan kahit na medyo pumipila po sila, hindi ‘yong kahaba-haba po ng pila, ang init ng araw kapag po nag-eeleksyon tayo ng Mayo, at pagkatapos madami pong nagsa-sakripisyo sa kanilang kalusugan,” he added.
(At the same time, voting procedures would be more organized because even if they line up, they would no longer need to queue under the sun’s heat when we hold elections in May — which forces many to sacrifice their health.)
Under the RAP, voters can visit the sites for Comelec transactions like new voter application, change of address, or change of name, regardless if the voter is registered in the said district or area.
For example, the RAP at the House of Representatives can accommodate employees even if they do not reside in Quezon City, where the House complex is located.
READ: Comelec’s ‘Register Anywhere Project’ covers inactive voters
Over the weekend, Garcia and other Comelec officials went to Sulu and Tawi-tawi — two of the country’s southernmost provinces — to bring the RAP and open registration sites. He also said that the preparations in the two areas prove that the peace situation is conducive to elections.
While the country just recently held its presidential elections in May 2022, it is expected to hold another election for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan by October 2023 — years after the polls were delayed.
Last Saturday, Garcia expressed confidence that the barangay polls would push through.
Garcia assured that despite the RAP’s nature of having voters register remotely, the information and data of the applicants are protected.
“So initial lang po ito sa steps na ginagawa ng Comelec, ang registration anywhere program. However, sinugurado po ng inyong Commission on Elections na protektado ang lahat ng data at karapatan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
(These are merely initial steps done by the Comelec, the registration anywhere program. However, the Comelec assures that all data and voters’ rights are protected.)
“‘Pag po finorward po magmula sa House of Representatives ‘yong registration — whether reactivation, new registration, change of name […] magmula dito papunta sa bawat probinsya, municipality kung saan sila talaga nakatira, we will always guarantee that the names will be duly posted in the offices of the Comelec, and we would likewise inform the citizen’s arm […] so that everybody can object and oppose on the application for registration,” he added.
(If we forward these registrations from the House of Representatives — whether reactivation, new registration, change of name […] from here to each province wherever they reside, we we will always guarantee that the names will be duly posted in the offices of the Comelec […])