Voters registration open despite ASEAN holiday: Comelec

FILE: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said its offices nationwide will remain open from Monday to Wednesday despite the declaration of these days as special non-working holidays in line with the country’s hosting of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. (Avito C.Dalan / PNA)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said its offices nationwide will remain open from Monday to Wednesday despite the declaration of these days as special non-working holidays in line with the country’s hosting of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the three-day holiday does not affect voters registration which is currently being held nationwide.

“(This) week-long ‘holiday’, #TuloyAngTrabaho sa @COMELEC. #VoterReg2017,” he said in his Twitter account, @jabjimenez.

Earlier, the poll body official urged the public including the young voters, to take advantage of the long holiday to register.

“We are urging millenials in Metro Manila and in the nearby provinces to make use of the upcoming long holiday break to register,” Jimenez said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared November 13-15 as special non-working days in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga due to the holding of the international event.

Classes have also been suspended in the NCR by the Metro Manila Council from November 16 to 17.

Last Nov. 6, the Comelec resumed voters registration nationwide, except in Lanao del Sur, for the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.

The activity will run until November 30.

Likewise, the poll body will be conducting off-site/satellite registration in different parts of the country.