DAVAO CITY – Third District Councilor Bernard Al-ag during regular session Tuesday, expressed his disappointment on the poor accessibility of services offered by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“The location of the office of the Comelec is disadvantageous to our constituents in the third district and I think even in the second district,” Al-ag said.
“I am wondering pwede kaha na ang third district nga opisina sa Comelec will be located also in the third district to improve its accessibility to the people (I am wondering if it is possible that the office of the Comelec will be located also in the third district to improve its accessibility to the people),” he added.
He said that this will lessen the burden and expenses of those who are living in far-flung areas.
“As we all know Comelec is in Magsaysay Park. Kung gikan ka sa Toril you need about 150 pesos to reach their office. Kung gikan ka sa Calinan you need about 300 pesos. Kung gikan ka sa Marilog you need more than 300 pesos (As we all know Comelec is in Magsaysay Park. If you are from Toril, you need about 150 pesos to reach their office. If you are from Calinan, you need about 300 pesos. If you are from Marilog, you need more than 300 pesos),” he said.
The Comelec has recorded a total of 888,442 registered voters here, out of which 179,967 voters have yet to validate themselves for the biometrics.
“These numbers are alarming. If the situation continues, a good number of our constituents will be disenfranchised,” he said.
The councilor said that he will pass a resolution that will urge the Comelec to transfer its office, particularly the division office of the third district, to make its services accessible to the people living there.
The Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013 states that voters who fail to submit for validation on or before the last day of filing of application for registration for purposes of the May 2016 elections shall be deactivated.
The biometrics registration for old voters started May 6 last year and the last day of filing will be on October 31.(davaotoday.com)
