FIRST ON RADAR: Senior citizens forced to climb stairs to complete voter registration

Senior citizens in General Santos City were seen climbing several flights of stairs to process their voter registration, including an 80-year-old woman who reportedly struggled to walk.

Videos uploaded on Facebook by Florimar Pasaje on November 10 showed elderly applicants climbing the stairs of a Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office reportedly located in Barangay Dadiangas West.

In her post, Pasaje described how her 80-year-old grandmother had to reach the third floor to process her voter registration and obtain a voter’s certificate despite having difficulty walking.

Pasaje said she offered to go upstairs herself to process her grandmother’s documents, but personnel initially stopped her and attempted to arrange for someone to carry the elderly woman upstairs using a bench.

Her grandmother, however, could not manage to be carried that way, prompting an employee to eventually go downstairs and assist her.

“Hindi ba dapat mas bigyan natin ng konsiderasyon ang mga senior citizens? At least man lang sana ay may maayos na assistance o accessible na lugar para sa mga matatanda,” Pasaje wrote.

The videos also drew criticism from social media users, with some questioning why the elderly applicants were not assisted downstairs or accommodated through an alternative arrangement.

“Hindi naman humihingi ng espesyal na pagtrato ang lola. Ang hinihingi lang ay maayos na serbisyo, respeto at konsiderasyon sa kanyang edad at kalagayan,” Pasaje added.

The incident came as voter registration for the 2028 national and local elections resumed on November 10, with the registration period scheduled to run until July 30, 2027.

COMELEC rules provide an express lane for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant applicants to speed up registration and minimize inconvenience.

Republic Act 10366 also requires the poll body to provide appropriate assistance to senior citizens and persons with disabilities during electoral processes, including assistance in completing registration forms. The law further directs COMELEC to coordinate with government agencies and LGUs to conduct satellite or special registration for these sectors in accessible locations.

“Sana mapansin ito ng kinauukulan at magkaroon ng aksyon para hindi na maranasan ng ibang senior citizens ang ganitong sitwasyon. Public service should be accessible to everyone, especially our senior citizens,” Pasaje said.

COMELEC has yet to respond to the criticisms as of this writing.