Lawyer Michael Abas, Comelec-Region 12 director, said Friday they are currently evaluating the barangays that will be covered by the offsite voter’s registration in coordination with the local government units (LGUs).
A scene at a polling precinct in General Santos City during the May 13, 2019 midterm elections. MindaNews file photo by ROMMEL G. REBOLLIDO
He said the activity will only be conducted in barangays that have no cases of infect
ion or classified as free from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
The agency will secure proper clearances first with the Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19 of the concerned LGUs before conducting the barangay-based satellite voter’s registration, he said.
Abas said they opted anew for such strategy to maximize their coverage in the wake of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.
He admitted that the ongoing voter’s registration in their field offices has been limited due to the situation and the implementation of various preventive measures and health protocols against the disease.
In this city, for instance, he said Comelec personnel decided to limit the number of registrants that they will cater per day to only 50.
“This is to avoid overcrowding as the available space is quite limited and we don’t want to compromise the health of the people and our personnel,” he said in a radio interview.
Abas said many people are also reluctant to go to the town and city centers and process their registration due to the threats posed by the spread of Covid-19.
Comelec offices in the region initially catered to voter’s registration applications from Monday to Friday at 8 a.[]
m. to 5 p.m. when it resumed last Jan. 4.
But he said the will extend their operations until Saturday starting this weekend based on a directive from their central office.
Residents who want to register as voters or have other transactions with their field offices may set an appointment online through the Comelec website’s iRehistro portal, he said.[]
