MANILA, Aug. 2 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is encouraging the public, especially new and first-time voters, to take part in the nationwide voter registration that began on Friday.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia reported a strong turnout at the offices of election officers, satellite registration sites across the country, and the Special Register Anywhere/Anytime Program (SRAP) sites in Metro Manila, despite the registration kickoff falling on a weekday.

"This favorable outcome during the first day of voter registration is a clear testament of the Filipino people's willingness to exercise their right of suffrage come next elections and actively participate in the democratic process," he said in a press statement.

Garcia ...