A reduction in the number of Sangguniang Kabataan registrants is seen in Dumaguete, with only a little more than 600 new ones being added to the previous list.

Before the 10-day registration period that ended September 29, there were 2,367 registered SK voters but more than 1,045 were deleted having reached, or reaching the age of 18 on or before the election on February 21, 2015.

There are now 1,322 in the list with ages 15 to 17 years, plus the new registrants of about 600, most of whom are from high schools in Dumaguete.  The number could be lower when hearings start.

City elections officer Gildu Agoncillo said that even on Saturdays and Sundays, only a few walk-in registrants came to the office, especially during classes because of the coming final examinations.

Agoncillo said the result of the SK registration could guide the congressmen on whether to postpone or abolish the SK. “Our work is to get registrants and to submit reports to the head office,” he said.

The reason given for the low turnout include very short notice for the holding of the SK registration and the registration period falling during class days, the students have to be absent to be able to register with the Comelec.

Meanwhile, Agoncillo said that 30 percent of the expected registrants for the 2016 elections has been achieved.

Offsite and onsite registrations have been scheduled in the city barangays for the last quarter of 2014. The 11 barangays already visited by the Comelec Dumaguete for onsite registration were Calindagan, Pulantubig, Daro, Bunao, Cantil-e, Piapi, Camanjac, Talay, Balugo, Bajumpandan, and Candau-ay.

 A special registration for persons with disabilities was held at the Quezon Park, and another onsite registration in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Bajumpandan, where more than 120 detainees have registered and validated their records.

There will be on-site registration in Bagacay on Oct. 4, 11 and 18, Cadawinonan - Oct 25, Looc - Nov. 8, Poblacion 1 - Nov. 15, Banilad - Nov. 22 and 29, and Batinguel - December 13 and 20, 2014.*JG

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