More registered this year for SK polls

CEBU, Philippines - More young people will be participating in the Sangguniang Kabataan elections in February compared to that in 2010.

As registration ended yesterday, the Commission on Elections reported that the number of registrants has reached 114,445 as of Sunday, higher than the 101,142 that registered in 2010.

Of the 114,445 total, the Comelec said 83,970 were qualified voters who registered from July 22 – 31 for the SK polls originally slated in October last year.

The Comelec said there were 17,676 who filed applications for registration over the weekend, much higher than the 12,809 who applied from September 20 – 26. 

In Cebu City, at least 6,000 registered from both the north and south districts.

Lawyer Marchel Sarno, election officer in the north district, said they have achieved their target of 3,000 first time voters.

“Compared sa last year, mas daghan gyud karon kay kun nakaparehistro ka last year unya qualified gihapon ka mo-vote, dili naka kinahanglan magpa-rehistro,” Sarno said.

“Sa first day, second, and third day, minimal ra gyud atong registrants, but ingon ani gyud ning trend nga kun duol na ang last day sa registration, modaghan ang mga tao,” he said.

At least 600 registrants flocked the north district office yesterday.

Meanwhile, in the south district, assistant election officer Bernard Delos Reyes said an estimated 3,600 has registered.

Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde said the registration would no longer be extended since Comelec also has its own deadlines to meet like the hearing for the approval and disapproval of applications for registrations.

Sarno agreed, saying students could no longer use classes as an excuse for not registering because the Comelec was open in the last two weekends to accommodate them.

“There is also an indication nga dili gyud siguro sila willing mo-pa-rehistro. Usa pud, atong ganahan maasikaso pud ni nato’g dali kay dili ra SK atong gitutukan, kay naa pa’y 2016 nga main concern pud sa Commission on Elections,” Sarno said.

The SK elections in October last year were postponed through Republic Act 10632 to pave way for the reforms in the current system.

 The law, however, did not allow SK officials to retain their positions in a holdover capacity, as well as the appointment of temporary SK officials.  (FREEMAN)