Seniors, PWDs can shop, register to vote in malls on Friday

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista at the Comelec office in Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ARNOLD ALMACEN

The Commission on Elections has called on persons with disabilities, or PWDs, and the elderly to go out and register on Friday in select malls.

In celebration of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, the Comelec has partnered with the National Council on Disability Affairs, Asia Foundation, SM Supermalls and SM Cares to put up satellite voter registration booths in select SM malls nationwide for the public but with priority given to PWDs and senior citizens.

Voter registration will be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at SM North Edsa (for residents of Quezon City Districts 1, 2, 4 and 6); SM City San Lazaro (Manila Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4); SM City Manila (Manila District 5); SM Center Muntinlupa (residents of Muntinlupa City); SM City Marikina (residents of Marikina); SM Center Las Piñas (Las Piñas Districts 1 and 2); SM City Sucat (Parañaque Districts 1 and 2); SM Aura Premier (residents of Taguig); SM Mall of Asia (Pasay City Districts 1 and 2).

Satellite registration will also be held on Friday in SM City Baguio, SM City Bacolod and SM Cebu City.

SM Supermalls has also said it is offering the use of its 52 malls across the country as voting precincts if the Comelec’s proposal to hold mall-based voting is approved.

Annie Garcia, SM Supermalls president, said “SM Supermalls has always been supportive of the Comelec’s efforts to ensure credible, peaceful and orderly elections. In line with this and as part of our commitment to give all convenience to the public, especially to mall-goers, we would like to tell the Comelec that our 52 malls will be made available as voting centers in the May 2016 national elections.”

She said the supermalls’ accessibility and senior citizen and PWD-friendly facilities made them an ideal place for people to cast their votes.

Garcia noted that in the October 2013 barangay elections, four SM malls were used as voting precincts for senior citizens and PWDs.

“We have done this before, being the first mall to have a voting center and this is another opportunity for us to give our customers all the convenience, especially at a most crucial period for our country,” Garcia said. TVJ

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