With the deadline for voter registration looming, House Agriculture Committee chair and ANAC-IP Rep. Jose T. Panganiban, Jr. reiterated his call for indigenous peoples and farmers to use the remaining days to register for the 2019 midterm elections.
Voter registration will end on Saturday, September 29.
“I urge all my fellow IPs and farmers to take the time to register. Mahalagang makapag-rehistro sila at bumoto para patuloy na maisulong ang kanilang mga interes,” said Panganiban, a member of the Gaddang tribe from Isabela.
Panganiban also called on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to explore the possibility of giving special concessions to farmers and IPs in Northern Luzon, who were ravaged by Typhoon “Ompong” last week.
He said that at least a week that could have been used for registration was lost because potential registrants prioritized tending to their homes and livelihoods.
“At least a week that could have been used for registration was lost because potential registrants prioritized tending to their homes and livelihoods.”
“Baka maaaring mag-extend o hindi kaya ay ang Comelec mismo ang lumapit sa mga tao para makapag-rehistro sila. The top priority for farmers is guarding the crops they salvaged against the rain,” said the party-list solon.
Panganiban relayed that during his visit to Isabela province, he had observed that people were too busy protecting what remained of their harvest from rains that occurred almost daily.
He added that with COMELEC seeking to expand the voter base, calling for an extension or for the setting up of offsite satellite registration centers would not be out of line given the extraordinary circumstances faced by people affected by the typhoon.
“Calling for an extension or for the setting up of offsite satellite registration centers would not be out of line given the extraordinary circumstances faced by people affected by the typhoon.”
The COMELEC announced earlier in the year that it will conduct offsite satellite registrations in places like public plazas, schools and other public places that prioritizes members of the vulnerable sectors such as IPs and senior citizens.
