Comelec exec: Register, vote for SK polls
Poll body expects 40T to 50T registrants but only 10T registered from Sept. 20 to 26 in Cebu Province
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cebu urged the youth to register and vote.
Cebu Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde said only about 10,400 youths registered between Sept. 20 and last Thursday in the province.
He said the Comelec expects an additional 40,000 to 50,000 youths in Cebu Province are qualified to vote for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election.
Under Comelec Resolution 9899, the period for the SK registration will be from Sept. 20 to 29.
But as of Sept. 26, only 10,400 young people registered. The highest number of registrants are in the cities of Mandaue and LapuLapu City, with 1,650 and 1,073, respectively.
“The youth must prove that they are still relevant so they have to be serious and committed to the SK,” Gujilde said.
He said older politicians should not interfere in the SK election process.
According to the Provincial Comelec Office records, the northern town of Catmon had the lowest number of registrants with two.
Other municipalities that had low number of registrants are Oslob (11); San Francisco (11); Medellin (13); Poro (14); and Boljoon (21).
Arthur Patiga, provincial election assistant, said there were 141,863 registered voters as of July 2013.
Out of this, around 83,000 are qualified to vote next year.
Gujilde said that unless there will be a law that would abolish the SK or reset the elections next year, it would push through on Feb. 21.
He said that there will be no registration 120 days prior to the election.
He said he does not see a reason to extend the registration because those who want to participate in the process will register, and those who are not interested will not do anything at all no matter what.