Comelec launches campaign, reminds all voters to register biometrics

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez (first from left) shows to Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. (first from right) the voter education materials they will be distributing to communities throughout Luzon as part of their “Walkah Walkah” voter education campaign. MATIKAS SANTOS

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched a voter education campaign Friday that will walk the entire length of Luzon to engage with the community on the grassroots level.

James Jimenez, Comelec Spokesman, said that the campaign, dubbed as the “Walkah Walkah campaign,” aims to inform, engage, and educate the public about the importance of the voter registration and validation process.

He said that there are an estimated 9 million people without biometrics and if they don’t register their biometrics, they won’t be able to vote come 2016. Jimenez also said that an estimated 3 million new voters will also have to be registered.

“Apart from rising to the challenge of processing close to 3 million new voters, the Commission must also ensure that more than 9 million registered voters are informed that they need to submit themselves for biometric capture lest they be disenfranchised in 2016,” Jimenez said in his memorandum previously submitted to the Comelec en banc.

“Beyond merely delivering information, the Commission must also take steps to mobilize these vulnerable voters, to actually get them to the registration centers where their biometric information can be captured,” he said.

The eight-man team of “walkers,” led by Jimenez, will start their walking education campaign from Laoag, Ilocos Norte on May 6. They will hold a voter education clinic there with Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr.

There will be a second major event in Tarlac City, Tarlac in Central Luzon where they will hold a biometrics clinic for indigenous people.

The third major event, which will focus on educating persons with disabilities, will be held in Kilometer Zero in Rizal Park by June 1 afterwards they will announce the events that will be held on the second leg of the walk towards Matnog, Sorsogon.

Jimenez said that throughout their walk, they will engage with members of the community to find out what their concerns are regarding registering and voting.

Locals of the towns and municipalities where the campaign will pass through have been encouraged to join the walk. Information about the campaign can be accessed on https://walkahwalkah.org.

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