Comelec ready for blackouts in voter’s listup

MANILA, Philippines -  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed confidence that blackouts will not interrupt the ongoing voter’s registration across the country.

In an interview, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said local Comelec offices have generation sets (gensets) they could use during power interruptions.

“We still have gensets although we gave out around 700 units to the victims of (Typhoon) Yolanda. Initially, we were supposed to just lend the gensets but we decided to donate them eventually because they really need them,” he said.

Last May 6, the Comelec resumed the voter’s registration in preparation for the May 2016 elections. This will end on Oct. 31, 2015.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the voter’s registration machines are also equipped with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) mechanism that will protect the biometric data in case of a blackout.

UPS is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a computer.

During the voter’s listup, those who will turn 18 on or before the 2016 polls can register.

The Comelec will also entertain applications for validation if a voter already has biometric data as well as applications for transfer of registration and reactivation of registration.