Comelec focused to register 9.6-M voters under biometrics system

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MANILA – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes said on Tuesday the commission is determined to register all the remaining 9.6 million voters under the biometrics system in preparation for the 2016 elections.

”Our drive is focus toward the 9.6 million who are not yet registered under biometrics,” Brillantes said during the Senate hearing on the Comelec’s proposed Php 16.9- billion budget for 2015.

Brillantes emphasized that biometrics data of voters is mandatory beginning in the 2016 national and local elections even as he advised voters to update their records.

”You cannot vote in 2016 unless you are under the biometrics registration system,” Brillantes said.

He said the biometrics registration started last May 6 and will end in October next year.

“You have to validate your record and let your biometrics be recorded properly for you to exercise your right of suffrage come 2016 elections,” Brillantes said.

The Comelec has allotted Php 120.3 million budget for this year’s continuing registration but its proposed Php 231.5-million budget for 2015 has been removed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

DBM Assistant Director Mary Anne dela Vega explained that the budget has been removed because continuing registration is part of the Comelec’s regular operations and mandates.

Dela Vega further explained the Comelec can use funds for continuing registration as well as overseas voters registration, recalls and even plebiscites from the Php 1.58-billion budget for operations.

”It is not locally funded projects but regular operations and mandates which is under the Php 1.5-billion budget,” Dela Vega said.

Last year, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Republic Act No. 10367 mandating the remaining 9.6 million of the 52 million registered Filipino voters to undergo biometrics data capture.

Biometrics refers to the registrant’s picture, fingerprint and signature recorded by a computer during the registration period.

The system will help the Comelec to purge the final voters’ list of multiple registrants.