BU tapped as voter’s registration site

By Sally A. Altea

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has tapped Bicol University (BU) to become a voters’ registration site for next year’s national and local elections.

Comelec has signed an agreement with BU to set up voter registration booths at the BU East Campus Gymnasium.

The implementation of the Special Satellite and Register Anywhere Project (SSARAP) was held on the campus from Feb. 19 to 20 to register at least 30,000 students of BU.

Lawyer Juana Valeza, Comelec director for Bicol, said BU was chosen as the venue because its students come from the six provinces of Bicol, representing the entirety of the region.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia led the SSARAP opening program in Albay province and personally appealed to the youth to register and exercise their right to vote.

Addressing the students, Garcia said: “Election is the business of everyone, not only by the Comelec. You are the reason why the democracy in our country is alive and thriving.”

Verlaine Eunice Saralde, a student from Camalig, Albay said she appreciated the simple and fast registration process.

“It’s very convenient for us. We only need one valid ID and the form is very easy to fill out,” Saralde, 19, said.

According to Garcia, additional SSARAP sites will be established in various universities, malls, and other public places as the voter registration process for the upcoming elections progresses. (PIA5/Albay)