If you’re from the first district of Makati and are planning to vote next year, you’d better register now. But you have to secure an appointment first.

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Makati 1st district Election Officer Atty. Juliet Villar said they have adopted the system of registration by appointment in the local poll office as a way to lessen the number of people lining up outside their office.

“Kailangan po namin kayong bigyan ng appointment para hindi na kayo mahirapang pumila. Kasi kung iaacomodate namin ang lahat ng pipila, hindi na namin kakayanin dahil hanggang 5 o’ clock lang ang registration,” explains Villar.

Here’s how the appointment system works: When an applicant shows up in the local poll office to register, he will be given a small piece of paper wherein the schedule of their registration on a later date is indicated. If the applicant refuses to accept the appointment and decides to take their chances on that day, he’ll be allowed to hang around but those who have a prior appointment are prioritized.

Villar, however, noted that registrants in the district’s 20 Barangays seemed satisfied of the system that they have in place. “Wala nang nagagalit kasi hindi na nila kailangan maghintay ng matagal sa pila.”

Housewife Lourdes Padel, 42, who showed up Friday afternoon at the COMELEC Makati 1st district for her and her husband’s registration appointment, says the system benefits those like them who have no time to wait all day to register.

“Maganda siya kasi hindi abala sa trabaho. ‘Tsaka wala nang siksikan,” stated Padel.

Makati’s first district has more than 208,000 registered voters, said Villar. And since the start of voters’ registration December 2 last year, the local poll official added that an average of 200 people flock to her office daily to register.

Posted: 06.19.2009 LTO, Updated: 01.20.2012 JJSH