The Commissions on Elections has been making the necessary steps in preparing the Philippines for the much awaited 2010 elections that will fill the topmost positions – including the presidency. After spending billions in order to adapt a computerized voting system, the Comelec has spent another 1.6 billion pesos to cleanse the voters list. The Computerized Voters List Cleansing Project was awarded to the Unison Computer Systems Inc. and Japan’s NEC. The Cleansing Projects objective is to uncover multiple registrants, flying voters and other irregularities that would render the 2010 Elections vulnerable to fraud. The project includes Validation of Existing Registration Records Using Biometrics and Data Capture System, Online Data Submission and Synchronization System, Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Matching and AFIS Server Applications and the Generation of Voter ID Cards.

So far, the Comelec has eliminated close to 6 million voters due to irregularities. Mainly, the 6 million is comprised of people who have failed to vote in two consecutive elections. As revealed by the Comelec-Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD), more than 5,600,000 Filipinos have had their registrations deactivated. Other reasons include those excluded by court orders, those considered insane or incompetent and other understandable reasons.

However, quite a number might be lost but the country has gained close to three million new voters, most of them comprised by teens. Registration is available up until October 31.

As the Comelec prepares the country for the all-important elections on 2010, the public is still torn on who to vote. As a handful of presidential aspirants have declared their intentions, some are even now backing out of the race in order to make way for someone new. As of late, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas and priest turned Governed Ed Panlilio have declared their support for the same candidate: Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.