CEBU, Philippines- The Cebu City Council is requesting the Commission on Elections for an exclusive special registration venue that is accessible for senior citizens and persons with disability.
The City Council, through a resolution sponsored by Councilor Alvin Dizon, also requested the poll body to set up priority lanes for biometric validation of senior citizens and PWDs at the Comelec office, malls and other satellite registration sites.
Dizon said his resolution was intended to ensure that senior citizens and PWDs are able to exercise their right to political participation without discrimination and restrictions.
“One of the essential conditions for the exercise of the right to political participation is by ensuring that senior citizens and PWDs, by virtue of their age and disability, shall be given preferential treatment by the Commission on Elections in the conduct of the biometric registration to address accessibility and convenience,” a part of the one-page resolution read.
Dizon, who has been involved in social development initiatives for over two decades, said that his intention is for the elderly and PWDs to register with ease considering their physical limitations.
“I filed this resolution following the request from the senior citizens in a forum held recently… Many of our senior citizens and PWDs are looking forward to exercise their right of suffrage come 2016 elections,” he said in a text message.
For the May 2016 elections, the registration of first-time voters and validation for those voters who lack biometrics data started on May 6 and will end on October 31.
Comelec defined validation as the process of digitally capturing a voter’s photograph, fingerprints and signature to complete his/her registration record pursuant to Republic Act 10367 (An Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration.)
Citing RA 10367, Dizon recognized the importance of the state policy to establish a complete, permanent and updated list of vo-ters through the adoption of biometrics technology. The biometrics records will include the voter’s digital photograph, signature and fingerprints, among other features.
Also provided under the law, voters who fail to submit for the biometrics data will be removed from the voters’ registration record and will not be allowed to vote for the coming elections. (FREEMAN)