Comelec, PPCRV intensify campaign for ‘correct’ registration
Part of the efforts in cleansing voters’ lists and preventing proliferation of flying voters during elections is the conduct of correct registration.
Iloilo City and Provincial Election Officer Atty. Elizabeth Doronila said people should not presume it is easy to register because they must provide the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with accurate and proper data on the type of registration they are supposed to make.
“It is not enough to go to Comelec and say ‘Pa-register ko’ (I would like to register). You have to tell what kind of registration it should be,” Doronila said in an orientation with the members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the Archdiocese of Jaro.
Doronila said voters and the public in general, should be educated that there are six kinds of registration namely, new registration for first time voters, transfer of residence, change of status for those who were registered as singles before, correction of entries for those who discovered there are erroneous entries in their Voter’s Information Sheet, Reactivation of File for those who failed to vote as stated in Republic Act 8189, and transfer with reactivation.
She said the Comelec can only be effective in coming up with a clean, accurate list of voters when they have the accurate information per registrant.
Doronila told PPCRV members that in this huge task of cleansing the voters’ lists, they need the help and vigilance of the PPCRV volunteers, who have the knowledge and know how of their residents and communities.
Rev. Fr. Mark Senina, PPCRV Asst. coordinator said their min focus now is the massive campaign for the people, especially the youth, who are first timers, to go out and register as soon as they can and don’t wait for the last hours.
Other than the pro-registration campaign, Senina said they are also exerting efforts to help the Comelec cleanse the Voters’ List, to minimize fraud and voting malpractices during elections.
Doronila, on the other hand, said that the Comelec is also upbeat in their campaign for qualified voters to register, particularly among the students/youth for their stake in improved education in the country, the professionals because they are instrumental keeping jobs in the country, the farmers and laborers for their stake in food production in the country, for the elderly whose wisdom is essential in the people’s well-being, and the OFWs, the country’s “modern heroes.”
“Each and everyone’s vote counts in our political process like the elections,” Doronila said. (ESS/PIA6)