IN pursuit of making voter registration more accessible for students, faculty, and staff, the Bedan Entrepreneurs Society (BES), in cooperation with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), brought the Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP) directly to SBCA last Aug. 5.

The one-day registration event, held at the St. Maur Auditorium, allowed the Bedan community—including students, faculty, and staff from the Integrated Basic Education Department, Tertiary Schools, School of Law, and Graduate Schools—to conveniently register as first-time voters, update their voter information, or transfer their registration.

Ocular Visit

In his opening remarks, Atty. Rey Bulay, COMELEC Commissioner, emphasized the importance of making voter registration accessible to the community, aligning with the event’s goal of bringing the process closer to the people and encouraging greater participation in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, during the main address, COMELEC Chairman, George Erwin M. Garcia, stressed on the importance of having SRAP, especially in light of the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) as the bill extending the terms of incumbent officials is set to lapse into law by Aug. 14, even without President Marcos’ signature; he stressed that COMELEC would continue its preparations for the Dec. 1 BSKE.

He also urged the Filipino youth to take part in the democratic process by registering and voting, reinforcing voter engagement despite uncertainties surrounding the election timeline.

“Nitong nakaraang halalan, ipinakita ng kabataan, “kami ang may boses”, “kami ang may kontrol ng kinabukasan,” he said.

Garcia also discussed the numerous locations COMELEC has visited, notably remote and underserved villages—such as those in Palawan and Bukidnon—to bring voter registration closer to the people. 

He highlighted the COMELEC’s dedication and commitment to public service, ensuring that every eligible Filipino, regardless of their area, has the opportunity to register and vote in the next elections. This effort aims to include everyone in the electoral process and maintain the commitment that every vote counts.

“We will always be there, anytime. Kahit gabi, i-re-re-histro natin ‘yung mga nasa ospital, ‘yung mga ba-byahe, ‘yung mga doctor, mga nurse, and call-center agents,” he emphasized.

To conclude his speech, the COMELEC Chairman urged the SBCA community not to waste their vote, explaining that being registered is not enough. He shared that not everyone in the world has the privilege of participating in elections, and challenged Bedans to participate actively. Voting, he stressed, is not only a duty, but also a fundamental right that must be exercised responsibly.