18T voters still lack biometrics data

CEBU, Philippines - More than a month before voter's registration closes, the Commission on Elections in Mandaue City reported there are still thousands of voters in the city who have incomplete or no biometrics data.

As of Monday this week, 18,193 voters have not submitted themselves to the Comelec to have their biometrics taken.

Lawyer Ann Fleur Gujilde, election officer of the city, said these voters comprise 9.78 percent of the total number of voters in the city.

Biometrics is a system that captures the voter's pertinent information in digital form, including fingerprints, digital signature and digital photo. Those who don't have biometrics information will not be allowed to vote in the May 2016 elections, according to Comelec.

Gujilde said they already sent notices to those voters who have not yet completed their registration, particularly those who are yet to have their biometrics. She added that they sent notices to the concerned voters last year, as well as this year.

The Comelec also sent compact discs to the barangays containing the list of voters who do not have biometrics. In turn, barangay officials are responsible for informing and encouraging their constituents to register or submit themselves to Comelec for the biometrics taking, said Gujilde.

However, Gujilde ultimately pleaded to concerned voters to submit themselves and not wait for their barangay officials to compel them.

According to her, some barangays are challenged in the process of encouraging their constituents to register since some of them are demanding food or free transportation.

"Dilemma sad sa mga punong barangay kay kon moadto sa mga tawo, ingnon man sila nga, "Naa'y pagkaon, Kap? Naa'y sakyanan, Kap?" Gujilde said.

In Mandaue City, the barangays with the most number of voters without biometrics include Paknaan, Subangdaku, Tipolo, Banilad, and Labogon.

In these places, voters without biometrics are either from another place or old registrants. At least 1,000 voters in each of the five barangays have not yet submitted themselves for biometrics registration.

But taken as a whole, Gujilde said the number of city voters who "transferred out" remains proportionate to the number of voters who "transferred in" Mandaue.

The Comelec continues to urge the public to register before the October 31, 2015 deadline. This is because the influx of registrants increases as the last day of registration nears, said Gujilde. Thus, those who would opt to register last are likely to be inconvenienced by long queues.

Today, the Comelec will hold voter's registration at Pacific Mall while there will be an on-site registration at Gaisano Casuntingan tomorrow. Both satellite registrations will run from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Next week, the registrations will be at the Comelec office from Monday until Saturday. The office is open even during holidays.

Gujilde is asking the public to bear with the inconveniences during registration as the agency has only four machines, two for biometrics taking and another two for those who want to register.

As of July 20, the Comelec in Mandaue has registered 186,104 voters so far. (FREEMAN)