Satellite registration offices for Eleksyon 2022 down to 19K

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set up only around 19,000 satellite registration offices for the 2022 elections amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, down from 52,482 offices in 2019.

During an online House hearing, Comelec Deputy Executive Director Teopisto Elnas Jr. said they currently only have  18,945 satellite registration offices for next May's elections.

“Isang reason dito is matagal-tagal tayong [hindi] nakapag resume ng registration natin because of the lockdown last year and given the fact na maraming areas na nag lock down, nag MECQ, and other declarations which hindered the Comelec,” he said.

(One of the reasons is we couldn’t resume for a long time due to the various lockdowns since last year, where many areas were either under lockdown, MECQ, and other declarations that hindered the Comelec.)

“Nonetheless, tama ‘yung sinabi… na satellite registration would really help, especially in areas na malayo (Nonetheless, it is right that satellite registrations would really help, especially in areas that are far away),” he added.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez last week said offices are being set up in areas with zero number of COVID-19 cases

Elnas said the Comelec will “beef up the conduct of satellite registration.”

“But even then, we cannot just conduct satellite registration outright. We have to coordinate with the local health officials…  or if not barangay officials to assist us in the assessment and evaluation of the requirements as far as the health safety and standard protocols that will be in place in setting up the registration venue,” he said. 

The Comelec also recently launched a mobile registration app that is currently undergoing pilot testing in 500 areas with little to no internet connection.

Meanwhile, Elnas urged the public to register through irehistro.comelec.gov.ph.

As of June, Comelec has recorded 60 million registered voters. -MDM, GMA News