Comelec Registration Hell: An IE's View

This is one of those times that the IE that I hide comes out by itself. This was during the Comelec Registration Hell I experienced by the end of October. Well the fault is basically on both sides, the people (Citizens) and the government unit. It became hell only on the last month of registration due to our so-called, whether we like it or not, mañana habit.

But technically speaking in terms of processes, the government unit has more responsibility and could have done more. I am not certain with other registration systems in other towns locally and nationally but the ratio of people working in the comelec in my town of minglanilla is basically 3 is to the whole town. I do not know what the basis for this ratio is but let's assume that's the most economical manpower needed for that department to work.

I have actually had a wrist-watched based time monitoring when I myself registered for the first time. I actually registered and went back to the comelec department for about 4 days/times or so. But don't let that time frame fool you, it's actually surprisingly shorter than that if we count and monitored the whole registration process on the citizen's side.

The existing process is like this (1st time voter):

1. Go to the Department/Comelec
2. Determine Requirements (Age, documents and the like)
3. Prepare Documents (this depend on what you want to process or give to them -which is weird)
4. Queue (get Form) & Verification/procurement (They need to verify if you meet the age w/ proof of age and all related stuff)
5. Fill out form and submit
6. Submit form (Form is queued and citizen is idle and waits to be called)
7. Physical queue for biometrics (Digital and physical)
8. Final Check and issued claim slip

The total time of registration in the most ideal scenario/situation is basically around 1hour and 30 plus-minus minutes if peak (Ideal Scenario - documents are readily available; knowledge of process flow,what to do and where to go next). But if it was not peak season, I bet it will take 30 minutes or even less.

Analysis and Observation:

1. Go to the Department/Comelec -For 12st time voters, this is troublesome, despite having an awakened sense of suffrage, the youth has still lots to learn about, this means they have to know where to register, if they have help from friends or family then good, if not prepare for a lonesome search.
   
2. Determine Requirements (Age, documents and the like) - another factor which leads late registrants failing to register; There are requirements posted in a WALL near, inside or outside the comelec office, the problem here is that its only in one area (which peole will crowd) and there is no requirements on how to get such requirements (Ex. Birth Certificate -where to get it, how much to spend) nor the TAT (turn-around-time) processing for such requirements: This may seem too basic, but such diminutive detail can actually speed up the whole process.
   
3. Prepare Documents (this depend on what you want to process or give to them -which is weird) - factors that affect this procees: available time, money and urgency
   
4. Queue (get Form) & Verification/procurement (They need to verify if you meet the age w/ proof of age and all related stuff) - all I can say here is that there shoul be at least a process flow chart (BASIC DRAWINGS/DIRECTIONS) outside the office to avoid random people queueing or falling in line in the wrong official or channel.
   
5. Fill out form and submit - Once again there is a sample, the trouble here is that there is only one and people will crowd that which makes things more chaotic and confusing
   
6. Submit form (Form is queued and citizen is idle and waits to be called) - IDLE TIME..My observation here is simple: if all these people who are waiting, who are clearly finished filling out the necessary forms would help those confused first time voters, they could've have lessen people falling in line for no reason and crowding the already crowded sample document.
   
7. Physical queue for biometrics (Digital and physical) - here, the comelec people call people to fall in line by name and this is the line most people confuse to get the form and whatnot; a priority number would be very useful here.
   
8. Final Check and issued claim slip - The END..well until you get your voter's ID or whatever..

If only these things and conditions were fulfilled, regardless if the situation was 4-5months before the deadline or at least a week before the dead;line...This would most definitely make the Comelec people's job much easier, less stressful and make them more productive and the same can be said for the registrants. I really wonder why IE's in the Philippines are not recognized erntirely by the government, In the US and other countries, IEs work behind the scenes for the military, logistics and hospitals, some are even branching out to IT.

If only..