The Commission on Election in Bacolod City held a satellite registration for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Saturday at  Shoe Mart -North Wing to ensure that those in Bacolod can exercise their right of suffrage in the 2013 elections.

Bacolod Comelec Registrar Mavil Majarucon–Sia who spearheaded the registration, said  the COMELEC has noted that PWDs have a hard time exercising such right, considering their accessibility to the precinct areas and precinct centers.

She said they noted that some PWDs cannot vote because their precincts are either located on the second floors of buildings or in areas inaccessible to them.

She, however, added that sometimes such situation becomes inevitable during election day.

Majarucon-Sia said the satellite registration is a call for awareness for the PWDs to register and / or update their voter's registration records so the COMELEC can recommend to Congress an allocation for the establishment of precincts intended for them. "This is a way for us to know what are their needs during election," she said.

The satellite registration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday is in line with the celebration of the National PWDs (Persons with Disability) Registration Day under Resolution 9485, she said..

Earlier, she said a satellite registration of voters for inmates at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Handumanan will also be held  August 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in relation to detainee voting for both female and male inmates.

Majarucon-Sia also said registration of voters is ongoing at the Bacolod Comelec Office Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including holidays, which means they will be open on August 20, 21 and 27.

Registration will be temporarily suspended on October 1 to 5 to give way to the filing of Certificates of Candidacy, she said.

Mjarucon is also reminding the public to register early and not wait for the October 31 deadline.*CGS

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