ILOILO City – With only days left before the close of early registration on February 27, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 reported that 151,005 learners across Western Visayas have already pre-registered for School Year 2026-2027, prompting officials to call on parents of incoming Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7, and 11 students to complete the process on time.
The figure, as of February 23, represents 92.46 percent of last year’s total early registrants of 163,316 – a strong turnout, but it also underscores the need to reach remaining prospective enrollees before the deadline.
DepEd-6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. reiterated the agency’s appeal to parents to take advantage of the remaining days of pre-registration.
“We call on our parents, especially those nga ang ila bata incoming Kinder, Grades 1, 7, and 11 to have their child pre-registered for School Year 2026-2027. All they have to do is to visit the public school where they plan to have their child enrolled, approach our early registration coordinator and fill-up the Basic Education Pre-Registration Form. Libre ang magpa-pre-register,” Escullar said.
Data from DepEd-6 showed the following breakdown of pre-registered learners per Schools Division Office (SDO):
* Aklan – 14,699
* Antique – 20,387
* Capiz – 25,193
* Guimaras – 7,447
* Iloilo – 67,828
* Iloilo City – 9,790
* Passi City – 2,380
* Roxas City – 3,281
Among the 151,005 pre-registered learners, 28,268 are incoming Kindergarten pupils; 45,519 are Grade 1; 39,411 are Grade 7; and 37,807 are Grade 11 students.
Escullar explained that the process is straightforward. Parents only need to approach the school’s early registration desk, fill out the Basic Education Pre-Registration Form, and submit documents verifying the child’s credentials, such as a birth certificate.
In cases where a birth certificate is unavailable, a barangay certification will suffice, provided it contains the child’s basic information.
The early registration is mandated under DepEd Order No. 017, Series of 2025, or the Revised Basic Education Enrollment Policy, which states: “Early registration is conducted to ensure all new entrants for Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7, and 11 including transferees to public schools and Alternative Learning System learners for the first time are pre-registered.”
DepEd said early registration enables schools to project enrollment figures, helping administrators plan classrooms, teaching loads, and resource allocation ahead of the formal opening of classes.
Elementary and secondary public schools have been directed to set up designated Early Registration Desks or Registration Centers within school premises, staffed by non-teaching personnel to manage the process.
Schools Division Offices (SDOs) are also tasked to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) to identify areas with high numbers of potential enrollees but limited school absorptive capacity.
Schools Division Superintendents (SDS) are required to assign focal persons to work with barangay chairpersons to facilitate early registration at the community level. SDOs are likewise directed to coordinate with Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs) to ensure the registration of street children./PN
