TACLOBAN CITY -- The Commission on Elections in Tacloban City recently  reported that it has exceeded its target for the recently-concluded voter registration period.

According to Tacloban City Election Officer, Atty. Ma. Goretti Cañas,  a total of 5,467 have been registered during the registration period held from December 12, 2022 to January 31, 2023. The number included 96 who registered under the "Register Anywhere Project."

The Election Registration Board (ERB) will convene this February 20-24, 2023, to deliberate on the approval and disapproval of applications processed during the entire voter registration period, according to Cañas.

After the ERB hearing and consolidation of records at the COMELEC database, only then will the distribution of voter certifications starts, said the election officer.

Tentatively, the voter's certification will be issued on the first week of March, said the official.

"Para hadton nagpapakiana...kun san-o makukuha an ira voter certification, preferably by the first week of March," she said.

Likewise, the results of ERB will help in the projection of precincts and the number of poll workers that will be hired for the upcoming election.

Since the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections will be manually conducted, more than double the number of poll workers during the national and local elections are expected to be drafted for the upcoming elections this October, according to Cañas.

When asked if the election will take place this October, the official responded that they would continue their preparations for the October 30, 2023 election in the absence of legislation delaying it. (TCIO)