THE Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Baguio resumed the voter registration activities with a fully booked schedule for the month of September.
Lawyer John Paul Martin, Comelec Baguio election supervisor, said that prior to the start of registration on September 1, early registrants underwent online booking proceedings through Comelec Baguio's Facebook and webpage.
"As early as August this year, we have received early requests for bookings from registrants that have filled up the maximum daily registration of 50 registrants a day for the month of September. Those wanting to be booked online will have to be scheduled for the following months depending on what time and date the registrant's wants to be booked," Martin said.
The innovative online booking schedule include downloadable registration and health certification forms, which need to be filled out and signed prior to the scheduled booking date in compliance to the minimum health standards imposed by the Department of Health.
"All registrants are advised to strictly follow the minimum health standards which is why we are implementing a no mask, no face shield no entry policy aside from the observance of social distancing. Upon entry to our compound, a registrant is directed to proceed to our designated receiving booth to submit their filled up registration and health certification forms fo confirmation, they will then be instructed to proceed to our biometrics booths for facial and fingerprint processing which will only take as much as five to ten minutes at the most," Martin added.
Comelec-Cordillera director and lawyer Julius Torres assured senior citizens and persons with disabilities of adequate support from the electoral tribunal in the processing.
"We will accommodate them which is why we are also encouraging them to download the forms, sign and even book online, but if they will be proceeding to our offices, they will be accorded the necessary services. For walk in clients seeking for a copy of the forms, they will be given the forms but will have to be scheduled on a later date depending on their availability and not during the day of receipt of the forms as we have to give way for earlier booking schedules," Torres said.
Comelec-Baguio added that registrants with scheduled booking but will experience lockdowns may rebook online for rescheduling.
Voters registration is ongoing Tuesdays to Saturdays including holidays from a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and will end September 30, 2021.