COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Cordillera Administrative Region Director Julius Torres said there were enough DCMs during the registration proper, which ended on October 31.

He said there were just too many applicants who rushed to the registration sites during the last week of registration.

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Torres said Baguio even had two DCMs during the last two days of the registration.

"Hindi kulang ung DCMs, culture lang kasi talaga ng mga Pilipino na hintayin ang deadline," Torres said.

He explained there were sufficient DCMs in registration sites but the Comelec couldn't accommodate all those who came to apply because there were just too many of them.

Torres said the official number of newly registered voters will be released next week.

He explained other provinces are still tabulating the number of registered voters.

Biometrics was also done Wednesday for those who have finished the paper work for registration as new voters but whose fingerprints and other relevant data could not be processed during the last minutes of October 31.

The validation of old voters is also ongoing.

Torres said registration of voters will continue after the elections for the October 2010 barangay elections. But he did not say when the registration will start.

He added it is still not sure if there will be a Youth Council elections on 2010.

"We are still focusing for the national elections right now, there are no guidelines yet as to the barangay elections," Torres said.

On the other hand, media men will have to wait for the approval of the bill, which will allow them to be absentee voters in their assigned places.

Torres said the Comelec has yet to issue guidelines regarding media absentee voting.

The request was made because a number of media practitioners are assigned outside of their voting areas to cover the goings on during the day.

He added government employees like military and police officers usually undergo absentee voting during elections. (Visha Calventas)