COMELEC CARAGA: VOTER REGISTRATION RESUMES, NO MORE ISSUANCE OF VOTER’S ID

BUTUAN CITY – Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Caraga resumes the voter registration on January 20, 2020.

Atty. Samuel F. Rollo, Executive Officer IV, COMELEC Butuan, says the first day of voter registration for the upcoming 2022 national and local elections was successful.

“Monday, January 20, 2020 we are very happy nga positive kaayo ang response sa mga tao. We did not expect nga ingon ato kadaghan ang magpa-register ug mu-adto sa opisina para mag-process sa ilang katuyuan,”Atty. Rollo said.

(On Monday, January 20, 2020, we are happy because of the positive response of the people. We did not expect a lot of applicants for registration and other requests to visit the office.)

Michael Opalia and his partner were ones of the few who applied for registration.

“Maayo ning say okay dili busy. Unya dili pud kaayo siya hassle kung naay ipakuha sila na requirements, maasikaso namo kay dili pa kaayo busy,” he said.

(It’s better to be early because it’s not yet busy. If they ask to get other requirements, It’s not a hassle because we can process it right away.)

Aside from the registration, this period will also cover the renewal, activation, and correction of records until the month of September 2020.

While voters can still request for the voter’s certification, the said agency informs that the COMELEC ID will no longer be issued due to the upcoming National ID System.

“…Tungod lagi nga one ID policy na, ang National ID. So wala nay gi-print na [comelec] ID. So kadtong ga-expect ug COMELEC ID, wala na jud tay mahatag but then we have voter’s certification na ma-issue sa ilaha,” Atty Rollo added.

(We are not printing the COMELEC ID anymore since we are shifting to one ID policy, which is the National ID. But we can still issue the voter’s certification.)

Registered voters may obtain a voter’s certification for 75 pesos. And it is free for the PWD, pregnant and senior citizens.

While requirements for voter’s registration remains the same.