Comelec kicks off voters’ registration on Pag-asa Island

FREEDOM RITE IN KALAYAAN The flag-raising ceremony during the 125th Philippine Independence Day celebration on Monday is more meaningful for residents and
soldiers stationed on remote Pag-asa Island, the seat of government of Kalayaan, Palawan, which has become a symbol of the country’s fight against Chinese intrusion. GERALDFORD TICKE

In a historic event, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Garcia visited Pag-asa Island on Monday to personally witness the opening of the seven-month-long voter’s registration for the 2025 midterm elections on the far-flung island in the West Philippine Sea.

In the 2022 elections, the poll body recorded 521 registered voters on the island, which is a barangay covered by the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province.

“It is not important if the number of voters and applicants for registered voters on Pag-asa Island are not as many as in other cities or towns. What is important is that the Comelec is able to ensure that every Filipino is able to take part in their right to vote wherever he or she is in the country,” Garcia said in a statement.

“Most especially here in Pag-asa, where the spirit of sovereignty and independence is very alive, despite being far away from the mainland,” he added.

Voter’s ID cardsIn a separate TV interview, Garcia said the Comelec would meet on Wednesday to discuss the feasibility of issuing voter’s identification cards again, with the rollout to be implemented for Filipinos abroad “since there are not that many.”

There are about 1.7 million overseas voters.

READ: New Pag-asa Island station to get more tech for watching China

“Eventually we will issue the voter’s ID for our kababayan here in the country. But of course, this will depend on the budget to be given to us by Congress,” he added.

The Comelec stopped issuing voter’s ID cards in December 2017, in anticipation of the rollout of the national ID system.

The poll body will also focus on the registration in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with the first parliamentary elections scheduled for 2025, along with the national and local elections.

The elected officials will succeed the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, which acted as the interim parliament.

3M additional voters

The voter’s registration period will run until Sept. 30, from Mondays to Saturdays, except on holidays.

The Comelec aims to register at least three million more voters, increasing the voting population from 68 million to 71 million in time for the midterm elections next year.

To make registration more accessible and convenient, it will be implementing its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) in all capital cities and towns and highly urbanized cities. —WITH A REPORT FROM GERALDFORD TICKE INQ