Voters in Negros Occidental are projected to increase by a little more than 200,000 when the count of new registrants is completed, outgoing provincial COMELEC Supervisor Daisy Real said yesterday.

Real, who has been promoted to director 3 of the COMELEC Planning Office, has been replaced by Jessie Suarez who assumed his post as provincial poll supervisor yesterday.

Negros Occidental currently has 1,485,900 voters but with the large numbers of new registrants before the December 31 deadline, Real expects an increase of voters by 13 to 15 percent. The registration period is over, the COMELEC is just completing the biometric data capturing of new registrants, she said.

Suarez said the COMELEC head office has given them up to Jan. 7 to complete the capturing of data of new registrants in their computers.

Meanwhile, there are three areas in Negros Occidental - Talisay, Hinobaan and Cauayan -- where the cleansing of the voters lists needs to be closely monitored by Suarez to ensure completion, Real said.

She said work at the Hinobaan COMELEC had been delayed by the breakdown of its computers and its office being closed down for a couple of days after town Mayor Mary Jane Cubid ordered its transfer. At the Cauayan COMELEC, the problem was a lack of personnel.

There is also a lack of manpower and equipment in the Talisay COMELEC, she said. Gov. Joseph Marañon said the United Negros Alliance, of which he is a member will come up with a partial list of its candidates for the May polls before the end of January.*CPG

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Meanwhile, the COMELEC has recorded about 9,000 new registrants in Bacolod City as of Dec. 31, 2006.

As of yesterday about 6,121 had their data entered in the Data Capturing Machine while about 3,161 are still having their data captured at the Bacolod Comelec Office until Sunday.

The COMELEC has set the deadline for the filing of application for registration, transfer or correction on Dec. 31.

Several new applicants reportedly flocked to the BAYS Center as early as 3 a.m. Sunday to beat the deadline.

COMELEC Resolution No. 7707 has designated January 15 to February 12 for the filing of certificate of candidacy for senators and Jan. 15 to March 29 for local elective positions

Campaign period for senators and party list is from Feb. 13 to May 12, and for congressman and local officials from Mar. 30 to May 12.

Election period is from January 14 to June 13.

The last day to file petition for inclusion is on Jan. 28 and the last day to file petition for exclusion is on Feb. 2.

Election day is on May 14.*CGS

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