THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said the first day of the resumption of voter registration for the 2025 national and local polls was a success, with applicants trooping to different registration sites across the country.
In a phone interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said they are happy with the Day 1 turnout of the seven-month voter registration period.
“It was such a success. The turn-out of registrants in all our sites were so overwhelming,” said Garcia.
He cited as an example their experience in Pag-Asa Island, as Garcia and other Comelec officials personally witnessed the start of the voter registration activities in Kalayaan, Palawan.
Aside from the residents of Pag-Asa Island, he noted how personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard assigned there also filed their applications for voter registration.
“It doesn’t matter how many they are here at Pag-Asa Island that sought to be registered. What is important is the message of the Comelec that we want every Filipino to be able to exercise their right to vote,” said Garcia.
In a statement, the Comelec said similar responses were observed in the 170 mall voter registration sites, as well as in capital cities and municipalities, where there are Register Anywhere Program (RAP) sites.
RAP booths were also established at the Baclaran Church in Parañaque City as well as in the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.
“With the cooperation of other government agencies, we will endeavor to reach the three million new registered voters for the 2025 elections,” said Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco.
The voter registration period for the 2025 polls is set to run until September 30, 2024.
