SK and barangay registrants balloon to 180-T

DAGUPAN CITY - The Commission on Elections in Pangasinan surpassed its target number of registrants for the Barangay and Sangguiang Kabataan elections as the number ballooned to 180 thousand. After the ten-day registration period, Comelec’s tally revealed that new registrants (18 years old and above) numbered to 68,391 while registrants for the Sangguniang Kabataan ballooned to 131,175. “So far, so good. Very enthusiastic ang mga kababayan natin,” said Provincial Election Supervisor Marino Salas who expressed amazement during the KBP Forum on the huge turnout of registrants. He said Comelec is merely expecting 50,000 registrants for the barangay and at least 75,000 for the SK considering the midterm elections has just ended. Top three local government units with the greatest number of registrants for the barangays are: San Carlos City, Bayambang town and Dagupan City. Bayambang town topped the most number of registrants for SK owing to its 86 barangays. Salas said however that despite the huge number, there were no unlikely situations of pushing and physical injuries like those witnessed in Metro Manila saying “Pangasinenses are disciplined.” There were the usual minor complaints like not being accommodated, ‘hakutan’, ‘singit’, ‘flying voters’ and hanging of computers but these were addressed properly, he said. Salas said all the registrants will be screened during the Election Regular Board hearing set in August. He said Comelec deemed not to extend the registration as schedules are already laid out. Election period starts on September 28 to November 12. Filing for certificates of candidacy is from October 15-17 while the campaign period starts on October 18-26.(VHS/PIA1-Pangasinan)