Comelec 8 clarifies issues on extension of voters' registration

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 26, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The registration of voters for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay elections has been extended, Comelec Regional Office 8 Assistant Regional Director Nick Mendros announced.

Director Mendros said that Commission on Elections has extended the registration for barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections owing to the sharp rise in voters.

The extension is also in answer to the call from various sectors that a week is not enough to register the young voters.

Director Mendros said that the great number of applicants over the past week indicates that a great many people wish to exercise their right to suffrage.

Director Mendros, however, made certain clarifications on the voters’ registration saying that for the barangay elections, registration has been extended eight days from July 24 to July 31.

The registration of SK voters, for youth aged between 15 and 21 years old, will again be held on two consecutive weekends on July 28 and 29 and on August 4 and 5, Director Mendros underscored.

SK registration, he informed, will only be on weekends since this is when most youths aged 15 to below 18 will not have classes and therefore be able to come and list up.

He added that while the registration for barangay elections will still be held in the offices of election officers in the cities and municipalities, the Applications for SK registration will be accepted at the barangay level.

Director Mendros stressed that the SK Registration will be done either in the barangay halls or in barangay schools and that the SK Applications will be received by teachers or other responsible officials who will be appointed by the Municipal Comelec officers.

It would be recalled that Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said that the Comelec only go around the law by accommodating the number of SK, especially those who have gone 15 to 17 (years old) starting October 29 by establishing so-called satellite offices in different barangays for which it needs a so-called budget.

The registration for barangay elections would form part of the official list of registered voters, while the list for SK is considered temporary.