QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar C. Binay on Monday urged voters to have their biometric information registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC to ensure they won’t be disenfranchised in the 2016 elections.
“Our right to suffrage is one of the hallmarks of the democracy we fought so hard to attain. It is our responsibility to ensure that we get to exercise this right,” Binay said.
Republic Act (RA) 10367 mandates all registered voters whose biometrics have not been captured to submit themselves for validation with the COMELEC.
According to RA 10367, biometrics refers to the “quantitative analysis that provides a positive identification of an individual such as voice, photograph, fingerprint, signature, iris and/or such other identifiable features.”
Biometrics registration, which aims to curb double-registration and
multiple voting, will start on May 6 and end on October 31, 2015.
The Vice President thanked the COMELEC for opening its offices on Sunday to accommodate voters who are unavailable to register during weekdays.
“I am thankful that COMELEC took into consideration our kababayans who work from Monday to Friday and made it convenient for them to register.” he said.
“With COMELEC offices open on Sundays, there should be no more excuses to miss biometrics registration,” the Vice President added.
Binay also requested the COMELEC to make sure their offices are accessible to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens.
“If the offices are on higher floors, maybe they can provide registration desks on the ground floor to accommodate PWDs and senior citizens who may have difficulty in walking,” he said.
Meanwhile, the COMELEC is set to launch on May 6 “walkahwalkah,” anawareness program to promote voter registration, validation, and biometrics registration.
COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez earlier said at least 9.6 million of the 5 million registered voters in the country stand to be disenfranchised if they fail to undergo biometrics registration before November 1, 2015.
Philippine citizens who are at least 18 years old on or before May 9, 2016 are eligible to register.
