MOBILE REGISTRATION. The Commission on Elections in Iloilo City conducts a satellite registration at Atria Park in Mandurriao District on Saturday (Aug. 24, 2024). The initiative started with a fun run to raise public awareness about registration, especially the Register Anywhere Program that will end on Aug. 31. (PNA photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Iloilo City maximized the enlistment of voters through the Register Anywhere Program (RAP), starting with a fun run, at the Atria Park in Mandurriao District on Saturday.
Iloilo Provincial Election Supervisor Reinier Layson said in a media conference that while the turnout was good, it was less than the desired output.
The fun run gathered 300 participants but only 100 availed of voters’ registration. Of the registrants, 20 percent were new registrants.
“For Iloilo City, we average only about 10 applicants daily, more or less. Of course, our machines can accommodate even a hundred, 200 per day,” he said.
He said they are enhancing information dissemination and hope that in the remaining days of the RAP, they can “at least pick up the pace” and see higher output.
The RAP will end on Aug. 31, but Layson said there is already heightened public awareness for the next round.
The RAP is done in highly urbanized cities and capital towns.
Iloilo City Election Officer IV Pinky Jevini Tentativa said that toward the homestretch of the registration, all satellite registrations will be in malls
The registration for the first week of September is at Robinsons Mall, the second week at SM City, the third week at Robinsons Jaro and the final week at Festive Mall.
Comelec Regional Election Director Dennis Ausan said that there is no more extension after the Sept. 30 registration deadline.
“We hope that through our campaign and in partnership with the media, we can remind them that our office is open Mondays to Fridays, Saturdays and holidays to cater to all their concerns in so far as registration is concerned,” Ausan said. (PNA)
