By Ferdinand G. Patino
MANILA, July 1 (PNA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has tapped its savings including the Php1 billion funds for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to help fund its “no bio, no boto” campaign encouraging registered voters without biometrics to have their biometrics taken.
“We will definitely use available resources for this…we have recognized the importance of having everyone undertake or submit their biometrics,” said Commissioner Luie Guia in a press briefing after the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with SM malls officials on Wednesday, to set up satellite registration booths in 52 SM malls all over the country.
With this, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista is grateful to their partners for supporting the poll body’s project.
“In behalf of Comelec, we are very thankful to SM malls for supporting our ‘no bio, no boto’ campaign. There are still over four million voters who have not validated their biometrics so this is a very important campaign that we are undertaking because we do not want to disenfranchise any voters,” he said.
The poll body chief noted partnering with the different malls would encourage Filipinos to support the campaign since it would be very convenient for them to go to the malls.
“One of these, supposed reason why Filipinos do not validate their bios because its difficult to go to election office, they also say it is a bit inconvenient both when in terms with infrastructure, in terms of the location so by tying up with various malls, including SM, no one now will have no excuse why they should not validate their biometrics,” he said.
“This is our commitment to Chairman Bautista and to the rest of Comelec, we would like to be able to help the people be able to exercise their right of suffrage by first registering and do their biometrics,” said SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia.
The satellite registration is ready to accept registrants starting this month. The booths will be open during malls hours, everyday including weekends.
Bautista said they acquired 500 voting registration machines (VRMs) intended for the satellite registration. Each booth will be manned by several Comelec personnel.
During the 2013 elections, five SM malls provided special precincts for People With Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens.
The public is advised to check on the registration schedule in the mall nearest them.
The SK elections was postponed to October 2016.
Senator Ralph Recto has recommended to the poll body to use the SK funds to fund the ongoing biometrics registration being conducted nationwide.
The registration is set to end on October 31. (PNA)