Voter’s registration: Many beat deadline, many failed

CEBU, Philippines – While many stood firmly in line under the rain, many also failed to beat yesterday’s deadline for voter’s registration for the 2016 elections.

“Daghan ang narehistro at the same time daghan pud atong nabalibaran tungod kay dili na nato ma-accommodate. Ang atong makaya kutob ra gyud sa mall hours nato kay lisod man ta og hangyo sa (Robinsons) Cybergate kon mo-extend pa ta beyond sa mall hours,” said Atty. Marchel Sarno, election officer for Cebu City’s North District.

Robinsons Cybergate operated from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. still. Priority numbers were given to those who tried to catch the last day of registration.

The last two days of registration at Robinsons Cybergate accommodated an estimated 2,500 registrants in Cebu City, both from the North and South Districts.

“So limited lang atong gi-accommodate… modagan ngadto sa 1,300 to 1,200 slot numbers available (for each district),” Sarno said.

They initially distributed 1,000 priority numbers for a day but gradually added some slots to accommodate more individuals.

“Wala na lang jud namo gihatagan (og registration form) ang uban kay cut off na… Daghan mi gibalibaran tungod kay dili na nato sila ma-accommodate kay mo-exceed sa atong makaya,” he explained.

“Kita nagpaabot og last minute resolution (from Comelec in Manila) pero wala man nag-issue. Tan-aw nako not necessary ang extension kay daghan na na-register. If we extend, ang calendar of activities sa Comelec ma-affected. Ang trabaho sa Comelec not only for registration, but also to make sure that there will be an election that will take place,” Sarno said.

He also defended Comelec from complaints it lacks the manpower to handle the throngs of registrants.

“Gamay ra jud atong tawo pero kon imong hunahunaon kon unsay root cause sa problema kay kon nganong karon pa man sila ni-anhi og nagpa-register,” he said.

“If wala sila na-accommodate sa Comelec kay kuwang among resources but then they have more than one and a half year para mobisita sa atong opisina. Gikalimtan na lang siguro ta ug nahinumdoman na lang especially on the last days of registration na,” he said.

At the Gaisano Grand Mall in Lapu-Lapu City, which also reflected the situation in Cebu City, Jason Igot, 23, said he had to beat the deadline because voting is his right.

“Karon ra ko nianhi kay day-off nako, wala ko ka lugar gahapon kay trabaho man gud ko,” he said.

Tricycle driver Tereso Gedorio, 37, a resident of Barangay Mactan, arrived at 9 a.m. and endured the long queue. He was able to have his picture taken around midday. 

“Nianhi ko gahapon mga 4 a.m. niuli ko mga alas 7 na sa gabii kay daghan kaayo ug tawo,” he said.

Like Sarno, Atty. Janette Chua Hu-Lamban of Lapu-Lapu City’s Comelec Office said voters had enough time before yesterday to register.

“Naay masuko kay dili na sila ma-cater kay gusto sila maatiman pero unsaon man na nato di naman sila maatiman. Dugay-dugay naman gyud na atong registration, ngano karon pa man?” she said.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, Lamban said no major problems were encountered except for the computers that lost power at one point but were immediately fixed by the mall’s technicians. — (FREEMAN)