FAST FOOD FOR A LONG LINE.
Comelec declines to extend SK registration; thousands show up on final day
To be elected this year: 1 SK chairperson and 7 councilors, who will serve a 3-year term; their constituents will be the Katipunan ng Kabataan, or all barangay residents 15 to 30 years old
THOUSANDS of registrants lined up outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday, the last day of registration for potential Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voters.
As early as 9 a.m., Cebu City North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno said they had to turn away some applicants, because the office could complete only a limited number of registrations.
“There were so many who wanted to register. That’s normal, we expected that already because most of us opt to register during the last day,” Sarno said.
Yesterday alone, his office registered close to 1,800 young voters. When the Comelec first cut off the registration, Sarno estimated around 1,500 registrants would be accommodated. An additional 150 were entertained later in the afternoon until last night.
Some of them had lined up outside the Comelec on Osmeña Blvd. at 4 a.m., or four hours before the scheduled start of the registration.
Although most applicants spent a long time in line, once they got in and accomplished the firm, the registration process didn’t take long, Sarno said.
After handing in their forms, the applicants had their biometrics, including their photo, taken inside the Comelec office.
Comelec had told SK-eligible applicants, starting at 15 years old, to register since last July 15.
Despite requests of some groups, Sarno said there was no extension of the registration process, since their national office did not release any memorandum extending the period.
Fifteen-year-old Akiza Rosetika Tabura of Barangay Bulacao was among those who lined up and waited for her turn to register.
Asked why she chose to go on the last day of the registration, Tabura said she had no intention at first of signing up since she didn’t know what the SK was.
“Pero giingnan man ko sa akong mama about it mao nga nagpa-register ko (My mother told me about it, so I decided to register),” she said. Tabura is a Grade 10 student of the University of the Visayas.
She was with her friend when she
Last-day rush went through the registration process.
Tabura said she is hopeful that youth leaders who will be elected later this year will help their barangay. She added that the youth should be empowered and involved in governance even at the barangay level.
Under the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act (Republic Act 10742, enacted into law last January 2016), each barangay should have a Katipunan ng Kabataan, composed of its residents 15 to 30 years old. It’s supposed to meet at least once every six months.
Each barangay is also entitled to one SK chairperson and seven members of the Sangguniang Kabataan or youth council. They will serve a threeyear term.