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The Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) in the country will not be issuing voter’s certification from Sept. 27 to 30 to give way to the last days of the voter registration for next year’s elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Thursday.

“The Commission anticipates an influx of last-minute registrations as we get closer to the deadline. And given the limited number of field personnel, we must endeavor to make the full use of our limited manpower and resources in catering to applicants for voter registration,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.

Jimenez said the suspension of the issuance of voter’s certification covers all OEOs wherever they may be housed, including barangay and mall registration sites where the Comelec field personnel have temporarily set up satellite offices.

On the other hand, Jimenez said the main office in Intramuros, Manila will not be affected as it will continue to issue voter’s certification.

He added that registered voters from any locality in the Philippines may secure a voter’s certification at the Comelec’s National Central File Division (NCFD) satellite offices, located at the back of Chowking in FEMII Building, Extension Cabildo St. corner A. Soriano Avenue in Intramuros, Manila.

Applicants must present one valid ID and submit their photocopy and pay the PHP75 fee.

For those who are unable to apply for certification personally, they may tap an authorized representative, who must bear an authorization letter for that purpose. The representative must also present a valid ID with a photocopy.

The Comelec reminded the public that voter’s certification is free of charge for senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs), members of indigenous peoples (IPs) and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs), and solo parents.