MOD to vendors: No need to get voter’s certificate
Vendors from Cebu City flocked to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office to acquire voter’s certificates as this is a requirement for their renewal of permits. The crowd prompted the Comelec offices to return the online appointment process. | Contributed photos
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Market Operations Division (MOD) has asked vendors to stop flocking to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices of the two districts of the city to get a voter’s certificate.
The certificate is supposedly one of the requirements of the MOD for each market vendor to get their stall lease and permit renewed.
However, at least a hundred vendors flocked the North and South District Comelec offices on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, violating the social distancing rule and prompting the police to intervene.
The two offices announced on their Facebook pages that due to the crowd, they will reimpose the online appointment system to avoid any individuals crowding the election offices.
Some of the vendors added that they needed the voter’s certificate to avail of a P5,000 cash subsidy from the city government.
However, MOD Head Irvin Cabales said there is no longer a necessity to get a voter’s certificate because the Comelec has already provided them the list of voters in the city.
Market vendors can go directly to the MOD office while ambulant vendors can directly go to the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) office for their registrations.
The two agencies will now be able to cross-check the registration of the vendors to that of the voters list of the Comelec.
“Dili na sila kailangan mangayog certificate, igo nalang sila moanhi kami na, ang PROBE nay moverify sa Comelec list. Naghatag naman silag lista,” Cabales.
At least 6,500 stall and ambulant vendors are expected to renew their permits before January 31, 2021, and they are given a schedule for the renewal to prevent crowding.
Cabales said that for those who will avail for the P5,000 financial assistance, they no longer need the certification as well as the MOD would be the one to verify who among the vendors are actual voters of the city.
The MOD urged the vendors not to flock the Comelec offices as the certificates would no longer be needed.
For the Comelec’s part, visiting the two offices would now be on an appointment basis. /rcg
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