MANILA, Philippines – Voters’ registration for the 2016 national elections will proceed in February, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

This is because of the likely postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or youth council) polls currently set for February 21. Recent developments in Congress indicate that the SK polls may be postponed anew to October 2016 to give lawmakers more time to pass reforms in the SK system. (READ: Senate panel okays SK polls postponement)

The Comelec en banc – through Minute Resolution No. 15-0050 released on Friday, January 30 – ordered that the system of continuing registration of voters, validation, and updating of registration records “continue on February 1, 2015, until further orders.”

The poll body had previously ordered the suspension of voters’ registration from February 1 to 28 because of activities related to the SK polls.

“I think it’s a sign that in Comelec’s opinion, it seems sure that the SK elections would not push through,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. (RELATED: Comelec resets gun ban as SK election period shortened)

The poll body calls on new voters to register and asks existing voters to validate their records, as those with incomplete biometrics data would have their voter records deactivated.

Jimenez reminded voters that local Comelec offices are open 8 am to 5 pm Sundays to Fridays in Metro Manila and highly-urbanized cities, and Mondays to Fridays for the rest of the country.

Voters may also go to satellite registration events organized by some local election offices, he said.

In addition, the Comelec promotes the use of its iRehistro website for the online accomplishment of application forms for voters’ registration and validation.

Voters’ registration and validation for the 2016 polls will be ongoing until October 31, 2015. – Rappler.com