‘Register everywhere’
NEXT month’s launching of the Register Anywhere Project (RAP) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should be welcomed by the election-crazy Filipino people.
In impoverished Philippines, which is acknowledged as the bastion of democracy in this part of the world, regular national and local elections are held every three years.
In addition to these political exercises, the Filipino electorate is supposed to go to the polls every three years to elect new barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials.
The “Register Anywhere Project, which was approved by the Comelec en banc last October 26, will be pilot-tested in five shopping malls in Metropolitan Manila (MM).
It will be conducted every Saturday and Sunday from December 17 until January 29 next year. There will be no registration on December 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1, 2023.
During the 10-day registration, qualified voters may register in designated malls where their application forms, documentary requirements and biometrics will be taken.
The documents and captured biometrics data will then be transmitted by the Comelec on site to the district, city or town with jurisdiction over the residence of the applicants.
We doff our hat to the poll body, chaired by George Garcia, for coming up with the project, which is designed to ensure the participation of more people in political exercises.
Note that of the country’s population, only registered voters are qualified to elect the President, Vice President and other national, local and barangay officials.
Doubtless, the revitalized poll body will have the support of various sectors of society – the Church, media, business and academe – in its efforts to register more voters.
Lalo na’t naghahanda na ang iba-ibang partido politikal para sa darating na Mayo 2025 eleksyon.
