Voter’s registration in typhoon-hit areas may be postponed

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will study if the voter’s registration for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will have to be extended in areas devastated by Tropical Storm Mario.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they did not issue a postponement order on the SK voter’s registration scheduled to start yesterday.

“There was no postponement, although it depends on the situation on the field. It’s up to our field officials to decide if a postponement is necessary,” he said.

Almost all of Metro Manila and some nearby provinces went under floodwaters due to the heavy downpour brought about by Mario and the southwest monsoon last Friday.

The Comelec is holding the 10-day voter’s registration period for the SK polls on Feb. 21.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez noted that the first day of voter’s registration in Metro Manila was “all good.”

In Region 1, there was no registration yet in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, which are still experiencing bad weather yesterday, while La Union and Pangasinan “are good.”

As of press time, Jimenez claimed there was no incident reports, “presumably all election offices are functioning.”

In Region 3, the Comelec office in Obando, Bulacan was unable to open the SK registration due to flooding. It is expected to open by Tuesday at the latest.

Jimenez said in Region 4, Cainta, Rizal is expected to open the voter’s registration today “if weather holds.”

“The rest of the country was not significantly affected by Mario. We will be monitoring developments in affected areas and based on the extent of delay and expected number of registrants, (we will) recommend appropriate action to the en banc,” he added.