CEBU, Philippines - With only five days left to register for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections next year, city officials are calling on their counterparts in the barangays and other government agencies to help encourage the youth in their areas to get listed.
“The City Comelec yesterday (they) told me nga hinay gyud ang registration and they are expecting nga by Saturday and Sunday, anha gyud mudagsa ang mga tawo because walay klase,” said Councilor Alvin Dizon, chairperson of the City Council’s committee on youth and sports development.
The committee and the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) have already sent a communication to the barangay councils asking that barangay leaders help encourage and guide registrants in the registration process.
Dizon said they have also asked the help of the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education to help disseminate information.
Young people ages 15 to 17 have until September 29 to register with the Commission on Elections.
The Comelec resolved to push through with the elections on February 21, 2015 while waiting for the passage of the SK reform law. Among the reforms youth organizations are pushing for include increasing the age of qualified voters and those who will run for office and anti-political dynasty.
“We want our youths to participate in decision making and nation building,” he said.
Akbayan Youth Cebu representative Mikai Dumabok appealed to the Comelec to extend the regis-tration until semestral break to give chance for more voters to register.
“Naa gyod sila’y taas-taas nga oras para sa registration, kay kun taas man gud nga linya, mas ma-frustrate gyud ang atong mga batan-on maong mas maayo ma-extend,” he said.
Last week, Carlo Cabatingan of the Cebu City Youth Development Commission has sent a letter to the Comelec requesting for an extension and an off- site registration.
Comelec, however, denied the request but suggested that CCYDC hold an activity on the last day to entertain registrants at the registration office.
Cebu City North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno said the office cannot grant an extension because there was no instruction from the en banc office.
Sarno said the office is targeting 3,000 first time voters.
He said 61 registered on the first day, 161 on the second day, 88 on the third, and 90 on the fourth day.
He said that the office is ready to cater to bulk registrants or up to 300 on the last day of registration. — (FREEMAN)