All set for SK registration in LC

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—The Laoag Commission on Elections office announced that they are now ready for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) registration scheduled on Sept. 20-29, 2014 in preparation for the Feb. 21, 2015 SK elections.

City elections officer Flordelina Gagarin made the announcement as her office received Comelec Resolution No. 9791 which officially reschedules the SK elections to February next year.

The resolution also specifies that the last day to post notice of hearing of applications for registration will be on Oct. 6, 2014 while the last day to file opposition to applications will be on Oct. 13, 2014.

The Election Registration Board (ERB) has also set for a hearing to approve or disapprove applications for registration on Oct. 20, 2014.

Ms. Gagarin said all eligible SK voters who already filed their registration last July 22-July 31, 2013 need not register anew, unless they turned 18 years of age on or before February 21, 2015, wherein their names will be deleted in the existing SK lists.

She said SK member who are qualified to vote must be from the age of 15-17 on or before February 21, 2015.

Ms. Gagarin said her office personnel will be divided into two on the said registration dates because of their other activities going to barangays for the biometrics for the old and existing voters in preparation also for the 2016 local and national elections.

With these two major activities of the Comelec, Ms. Gagarin appealed to the public for understanding since they are very few. However, she promised that all the concerns will all be taken and acted on well.

In a random interview of students with the ages of 15-16, they expressed their agreement with regards to SK elections because according to them, they also have the right and privilege to express their thoughts and knowledge for the betterment of their fellow youth.

They added that the latest resolution is indeed the first step to once again voice out what the youth want towards nation-building.

Reacting to this, Laoag councilor Joseph H. Tamayo also favored the conduct of SK elections, however, it should be studied very well.

Mr. Tamayo said that the 15-17 years old qualification for SK would still prioritize their studies and that their roles as SK officials might be disregarded.

In view of this, Mr. Tamayo recommends a higher age qualification to have a more responsible leader and who has more time to attend to his responsibilities public servant.    

Meanwhile, Ms. Gagarin announced that only 23 percent of entire Laoag voting population remains to undergo their biometrics submission.

“This is the reason why our office go out to the different barangays in time for the Agserbi 24/7 program of the city government giving service closer to the people especially those who has no time to go to the Comelec Office due to a lot of household chores hoping it will be 100 percent completed before the year ends,” Gagarin said.

Relative to this, Ms. Gagarin also appealed to the barangay officials to help disseminate to their constituents regarding the biometrics so that problems would not arise during the election.