Registration for 1st-time voters OK’d

President Arroyo has approved the nationwide registration of first-time voters, which would qualify them to cast their ballots in next year’s elections.

The first-time voters are Filipino youths who will reach the age of 18 years on or before May 10, 2004, the date of the elections.

The national registration for first-time voters, which will start on the third week of October this year, is contained in Proclamation 430, which the President signed on Aug. 1 but was released only yesterday by the Palace.

"The youth’s right to suffrage should be given full opportunity to be exercised as the youth comprise a considerable part of our population," Mrs. Arroyo said in her proclamation.

The President said that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has scheduled the resumption of voters’ registration from Aug. 4, 2003 until Oct. 31 this year.

However, the Comelec issued Resolution 5912, dated Jan. 15, 2003, which temporarily suspended the filing of applications for registration of voters, including first-time voters.

In her proclamation, the President directed the Comelec and all government agencies, non-government organizations, mass media, sectoral groups to conduct an information campaign "to encourage the youth to register, observe and mark" the third week of October this year as National Registration Week.

Mrs. Arroyo has yet to indicate any change in her decision not to run in next year’s elections. However, her own partymates at Lakas consider her as their only sure bet for the presidential race.