Central Visayas Encourages Workers and Students to Utilize Register Anywhere Program for Voter Registration

CEBU CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Central Visayas is urging workers and students to take advantage of the Register Anywhere Program (RAP) for voter registration in preparation for next year’s midterm elections.

According to Philippines News Agency, regional director of Comelec-7, the initiative is part of efforts to facilitate voter registration for those unable to return to their home locations. The announcement was made during the commencement of the National Voter’s Day, dubbed ‘Pambansang Araw ng mga Botanteng Pinoy,’ on Monday.

Comelec-7 is in the process of coordinating with major shopping centers such as SM, Robinsons, and Filinvest, among others, to host registration booths during weekends. Additionally, for municipalities lacking mall facilities, satellite registration will be established in remote mountain and island barangays. Castillano outlined that urbanized cities and capital towns will host RAP sites monthly, aiming to cater to new registrants, individuals looking to transfer their registration, and those needing corrections of entries.

The move aligns with Comelec’s goal to improve the voting experience by making registration services more accessible to the public. As part of the pilot phase of RAP, Comelec-Mandaue election officer Anna Fleur Gujilde announced that registration sessions are scheduled at the University of San Carlos Talamban Campus on February 27 and Cebu Doctor’s University on February 28.

Despite a lower turnout at the opening of the registration period, Castillano emphasizes the importance of registering early to avoid the expected rush and long queues closer to the registration deadline.