Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body is prioritizing vulnerable sectors ahead of the September 14 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections and the November 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), as he announced that the agency is now 90% prepared for the polls.
Garcia, together with other top COMELEC officials, visited Puerto Princesa City as part of the agency’s preparations related to the ongoing voter registration for the BSKE.
According to Garcia, COMELEC aims to ensure a smooth voter registration process to give more Filipinos the opportunity to vote, particularly those belonging to vulnerable sectors such as persons deprived of liberty, senior citizens, persons with disability, indigenous peoples, and pregnant women.
“Napakaimportante niyan para sa COMELEC sapagkat ang puso at konsensya ng COMELEC ay yung vulnerable sector. Gusto natin i-emphasize ang pagboto ng mga nakatatanda, lalo na yung early voting hours – 5 a.m.-7 a.m.,” Garcia said during a press briefing held at SM City Puerto Princesa on Wednesday, May 13.
“At the same time, gusto rin natin i-emphasize yung pagboto ng mga katutubo, mga PWD at mga nagdadalang-tao. Sila yung vulnerable sector natin,” he added.
Garcia said the number of newly registered voters has already reached around 4.5 million since voter registration began on October 20 last year, while about 1.3 million registrants are for the Sangguniang Kabataan.
He added that around 95 million voters are expected to participate in the November 2 BSKE, including 70 million regular voters and 25 million SK voters.
Garcia also said COMELEC’s security preparations are ongoing in coordination with various law enforcement agencies.
“Nag-conduct na kami two weeks ago ng command conference with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan. Yung nilatag natin na security preparation, aming isasagawa yan hanggang sa mga susunod na buwan,” he said.
At present, Garcia said no area has yet been placed under COMELEC control, while only one municipality in Basilan remains under the “red category.”
