Comelec's Register Anywhere Project pilot test off to a good start —Garcia

The pilot test of the Commission on Elections' Register Anywhere Project (RAP), which allows qualified Filipino voters to register at booths in certain establishments such as malls, was off to a good start, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said Saturday. 

"Initially po napaka-successful... Ongoing po lahat (Initially, it was very successful. The RAP is ongoing in all pilot test sites)," Garcia said in a media briefing.

"Nakakatuwa dahil kaya naman pala nating gawin ito, bakit hindi pa natin ginawa noon? But just the same, better late than never. Ito po'y magandang simula, pero sana naman ay tangkilikin ng ating mga kababayan," Garcia added.

(We are delighted that we could do it. Why have we not conducted the project before? But just the same, better late than never. This is a good start, but we hope our countrymen would patronize it.)

The Comelec is conducting the pilot test of the RAP in five selected malls in the National Capital Region, and in the provinces.

Garcia said the RAP is for qualified voters currently not in the area of their residence.

He added that pilot sites are expected to be set up at around 80 malls all over the country, and that the program is also available for overseas voters.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the continuing registration of voters is available from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in all local Comelec offices.

Garcia called on the public to register early, and not during the last days of registration.

"The more voters, the greater the opportunity that we can strengthen our democracy in our country," he said.

The voter registration for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) started on Monday, December 12, and will end on January 31, 2023.

The RAP meanwhile will run from December 17, 2022 to January 25, 2023. —KG, GMA Integrated News