Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles has urged the voting-eligible public to register in time for the 2022 elections amid a low turnout in registration of new voters, and likewise called on deactivated voters to apply for reactivation if they were unable to vote in the 2018 barangay elections and the 2019 national polls.
The Commission on Elections said that only 1.17 million new voters have registered so far out of an estimated 4 million unregistered Filipinos. It also announced that it had deactivated the registration of 7 million voters who had failed to vote in two consecutive elections.
“Huwag na po natin hintaying umabot pa sa deadline bago kumilos para mag-rehistro at magpa-reactivate ng registration. Ang pagboto ay isang sagradong tungkulin ng mamamayang Pilipino na hindi natin dapat talikuran,” Nograles said.
Deactivated voters may still apply for reactivation in order to participate in the May 2022 national and local polls, and need not apply again.
“Maybe we could do some form of bloc registration para we are assured of large batches especially from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has discounted the possibility of extending registration beyond the September 2021 deadline, as the commission is operating on a very tight schedule to fulfill the other requirements in the run-up to the 2022 elections.
The neophyte lawmaker appealed to the youth particularly to register to vote.
“Elections are an opportunity to implement change,” he said, and “youth should not pass up the chance to elect those they think should lead.”
“Marami sa ating nagbabatikos sa social media, nagtatawag ng pagbabago. Nasa kamay natin ang pagbabagong hinihingi natin, at nagsisimula ito sa paghalal ng mga lingkod-bayan na kinakatawan ang mga nais nating makita sa mga lider natin. Ngunit hindi ito magiging posible kung hindi tayo magre-rehistro,” Nograles said.
The solon also expressed his support for adjustments that Guanzon said the election body would consider to make registration more convenient.
Guanzon said she had proposed that registration hours be extended beyond 3 p.m..
The Comelec is also working to establish a priority lane for medical frontliners including ambulance drivers, security guards, city health officials, among others, as well as barangay registration satellites.
Nograles said barangay registration satellites could be a good solution for people who are still averse to going out, especially as public transportation still remains an issue.
The solon also expressed his support for adjustments that Guanzon said the election body would consider to make registration more convenient.
He advised, though, that these satellites should be complemented with information dissemination campaigns that target those in the countryside or who have limited access to the internet.
“Kung kailangan po mag-ronda nang naka-loud speaker o kaya mag-house-to-house sa mga isolated na lugar, gawin po natin para mahikayat na mag-rehistro ang mga kababayan natin,” Nograles said.
He also proposed that the Comelec study the possibility of entering into strategic partnerships with local governments and the private sector to provide transportation for people who wish to register.
“Maybe we could do some form of bloc registration para we are assured of large batches especially from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” Nograles said.