ILOILO City — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Western Visayas will begin accepting certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) beginning September 28 unless a new law postponing the polls takes effect before then.
Comelec regional dlection director Atty. Dennis Ausan said election preparations across the region remain in full swing because Republic Act (RA) 12232, which schedules the BSKE on November 2, 2026, remains the governing law.
The House of Representatives adopted the Senate-approved measure on September 16 fixing the terms of barangay and SK officials at five years and moving the next BSKE to November 2028.
But congressional approval alone does not change the election calendar, Ausan stressed. The measure must still undergo presidential action and, if enacted, comply with the requirements for effectivity before Comelec can adjust its preparations.
“Ideally, the President should sign the postponement law before the filing of certificates of candidacy,” said Ausan.
Comelec cannot stop its preparations merely on the expectation that the measure will become laws, he stressed.
“Until such time nga there’s a law superseding the current law, RA 12232, nagapadayon kita sa tanan naton nga paghanda sa Nov. 2 elections. First and foremost nagapreparar kita sa filing sang certificates of candidacy from September 28 until October 5,” said Ausan.
“Kon wala pa sang layi by September 28, ma-push through kita ya. Padayunon naton ina ang pagbaton,” Ausan stressed.
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia had also stressed the need for a definitive resolution by September 28 because of operational deadlines, including the printing and distribution of election materials.
Comelec must likewise prepare for the possibility of legal challenges before the Supreme Court should the postponement measure become law.
Pending any new law, court order or instructions from the Comelec Central Office, regional election officials will continue following the existing BSKE calendar.
SECURITY PREPARATIONS CONTINUE
Comelec Region 6 is also pressing ahead with security preparations for the November polls.
The Regional Joint Security Control Center convened with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard and other partner agencies yesterday.
Comelec briefed law enforcement agencies on election-related prohibited acts, including the gun ban and the establishment of checkpoints, while security officials will identify potential election areas of concern.
ILOILO CITY 95% READY
In Iloilo City, Election Assistant Officer II Jonathan Sayno said preparations are already 95 percent complete.
COC filing will be conducted offsite at Robinsons Place Iloilo from September 28 to October 5.
Roster lists have also been posted for 970 electoral boards assigned to the city’s 970 clustered precincts. Each electoral board consists of a chairperson, poll clerk and third member.
Briefings and training sessions for electoral boards are scheduled from October 16 to 28.
The Election Registration Board will convene on September 24 for the sealing and confirmation of certified voters lists, which will subsequently be posted at designated voting centers.
Election officials are awaiting the distribution of ballot boxes and remaining administrative supplies to bring preparations to full readiness.
4.2 MILLION WESTERN VISAYAS VOTERS
Western Visayas has 4,246,670 registered regular and SK voters in 3,389 barangays following the close of voter registration on June 1.
Of the total, 3,142,243 are regular voters while 1,104,427 are SK voters.
Iloilo has the region’s largest regular voting population at 1,649,653, followed by Capiz with 544,622; Aklan, 417,387; Antique, 404,557; and Guimaras, 126,024.
Iloilo likewise has the most SK voters at 572,056, followed by Capiz with 195,065; Antique, 147,725; Aklan, 146,733; and Guimaras, 42,848.
In Iloilo City alone, election officials are preparing for 312,317 registered barangay voters and 99,554 SK voters.
Comelec expects another heavy turnout of candidates after processing more than 6,000 candidacies during the previous BSKE cycle.
Sayno said the barangay polls could also assume greater political significance ahead of the 2028 national and local elections.
“The barangay election serves as an opening salvo for the national and local elections. We are anticipating more candidates because those eyeing national and local posts in 2028 will actively position allies they can rely on at the grassroots level,” he said.
Voters aged 18 and above may participate in the barangay elections, while those aged 15 to 30 may vote in the SK elections. Candidates for SK positions must be between 18 and 24 years old.
Registered voters aged 18 to 30 are therefore entitled to two ballots — one for barangay officials and another for SK officials.
Ausan said Comelec would immediately adjust its preparations should the measure resetting the elections finally take effect.
“In the event that the law will be passed, setting the BSKE on November 2028, then the commission will just act accordingly and comply with the provisions of the new law,” Ausan stressed./PN
