BACOLOD City – House Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will push through as scheduled on November 2, 2026.
Benitez made the statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not mention any plan to postpone the village and youth elections during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.
He said his discussions with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. indicated that the circumstances previously cited as grounds for delaying the polls no longer exist.
“In short, the BSKE will push through as scheduled in November,” Benitez said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has continued its preparations for the November 2 elections despite earlier reports of a possible postponement.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia previously said preparations remain on track, adding that while the commission had received information about possible moves to defer the elections due to the crisis, it could not suspend its preparations based solely on unconfirmed reports.
Under the Comelec calendar of activities, the filing of certificates of candidacy is set from September 28 to October 5, while the official campaign period will run from October 22 to October 31.
The BSKE will elect barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan in communities nationwide.(WDJ)/PN
