Promulgated: 12 February 2009
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 8514 promulgated on November 12, 2008, provides for the rules and regulations governing the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters in the non-ARMM areas;
WHEREAS, there is a need to adjust the periods and dates set for the deadline of filing of applications for registration, last Election Registration Board (ERB) hearing and related activities including the submission of the Project of Precincts (POPs) from the field offices of the Commission to the Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) so that the required data on the number of precincts and registered voters will become available in time for the setting of configuration of the machines (Optical Mark Reader) to be used for the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections, which is scheduled starting February 2, 2010;
WHEREAS, it is imperative to require the submission of POPs starting the third ERB hearing on July 20, 2009 for a more updated data as bases in the preparation of Automation Allocation Report for the printing and/or procurement of official ballots, non-accountable forms, supplies and other election paraphernalia, which target date of accomplishment is from August 18 to November 16, 2009;
WHEREAS, there is a public clamor to open registration during Saturday to accommodate the youth-students and the busy workers, who have no time to register during the weekdays;
WHEREAS, in Section 6 of Resolution No. 8514 the Commission provided that persons who have not yet reached the required voting age or period of residence on the day of registration but will possess the same on or before the day of election (May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections) may register but not earlier than May 12, 2009, with the view in mind of avoiding the inclusion of unqualified voters in the list when an intervening electoral exercise occurs a year before the 2010 elections;
WHEREAS, in order to encourage wider voter participation and in recognition of the role of the youth in nation-building, as they will comprise the majority of the first time registrants, the Commission deemed it best to lift the afore-cited time limitation in Secs. 6 and to provide additional registration days every Saturday and holidays falling on weekdays, except Holy Thursday and Good Friday on April 9 and 10, 2009;
WHEREAS, based on foregoing considerations, there are compelling reasons for the amendments being sought in order for the Commission to accomplish the pre-election activities in pursuit of its mandate to conduct clean, honest, orderly, peaceful, and credible May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission on Elections, by virtue of the power vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, and other election laws, has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to amend Sections 4, 6, 25 and 26 of Resolution No. 8514, which shall now read as follows:
"Section 4. Date, time and place of filing of applications; hearing and approval/disapproval. - Applications for registration, transfer of registration records, reactivation and changes/corrections of entries in the registration records/inclusion of registration records/reinstatement of name in the list of voters, shall be personally filed beginning December 2, 2008 to October 31, 2009, at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) of the district/city/municipality where the applicant resides from Monday to Friday, including Saturday and holidays falling on weekdays, except Holy Thursday and Good Friday on April 9 and 10, 2009, during regular office hours at 8:00 o'clock a.m to 5:00 o'clock pm.. The applications shall be heard by the Election Registration Board (ERB) at the OEO, in accordance with the following schedule:
Period to file applications Last day to post Notice of Hearing Last day to file opposition to the applications for registration/transfer of registration records Hearing / Approval / Disapproval of Applications December 2, 2008 to December 19, 2008 January 5, 2009 January 12, 2009 January 19, 2009 January 2 to March 31, 2009 April 6, 2009 April 13, 2009 April 20, 2009 April 1 to June 30, 2009 July 6, 2009 July 13, 2009 July 20, 2009 July 1 to September 30, 2009 October 5, 2009 October 12, 2009 October 19, 2009 October 1 to 31, 2009 November 6, 2009 November 9, 2009 November 16, 2009
XXX "SECTION 6. Who may register. - Any Filipino citizen who is:
XXX Any person, who has not yet reached the required voting age or period of residence on the day of registration but will possess the same on or before the day of election (May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections) may register as a voter."
"SECTION 25. Disposition of accomplished applications and compact discs (CDs). -
XXX 4. Transmit the following reports to the PES/RED (for NCR) within ten (10) days from the scheduled ERB Hearing, to wit:
- Compact Disc (CDs);
- Minutes of the ERB Hearing;
- Quarterly Progress Report (QPR)
- Hard copy of list of applicants whose application were approved/disapproved by the ERB; and
- Approved application forms copy for the Provincial and Central File
c. Starting the third ERB Hearing (July 20, 2009) until the last ERB hearing (November 16, 2009), the EO shall, in addition to the above-mentioned reports, prepare a Project of Precincts (Annex "H") and submit together with the other reports to the PES/RED (for NCR) within the period of ten (10) days from the last day of ERB Hearing, which shall be not later than November 30, 2009 for the last ERB hearing."
"SECTION 26. Role of the Provincial Election Supervisor. - a) The PES shall collect and transmit by registered mail or any other fastest means the quarterly reports herein required of the entire province to the following:
XXX 2. Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD)
- Quarterly Progress Report;
- Project of Precincts (starting the third ERB Hearing on July 20, 2009)
- Minutes of the ERB hearing; and
- Hard copy of the list of applicants whose application were approved/disapproved by the ERB.
XXX b) At the last scheduled ERB Hearing (November 16, 2009), the PES/RED (for NCR) shall personally deliver the CDs, Projects of Precincts and other reports to the above-concerned departments ON OR BEFORE December 4, 2009."
For purposes of the conduct of registration and other administrative functions, all officials and employees of the field offices of the Commission are hereby authorized to render overtime work during Saturdays and holidays, except Holy Thursday and Good Friday on April 9 and 10, 2009, from 8:00 o'clock a.m. to 5:00 o'clock pm., effective February 28, 2009 until October 31, 2009. No registration shall be conducted and no overtime services shall be rendered on Sundays.
This resolution shall take effect seven (7) days after publication in two (2) newspapers of daily circulation in the Philippines. The Education and Information Department (EID) is hereby directed to cause the widest dissemination of this resolution.
Let the Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) implement this resolution.
SO ORDERED.
