ILOILO City – Key leaders of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Liga ng mga Barangay in Iloilo City are throwing their support behind the proposed postponement of the barangay and SK elections (BSKE) from December 1, 2025 to November 2026, describing it as a move that would enhance the effectiveness of grassroots governance.
The proposal gained traction after Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the bill into law.
“For SK officials, two years is a short term,” said Iloilo City SK Federation president Jelma Crystel Implica in an interview with Panay News. “The first year is mostly spent on planning, setting up bank accounts, and complying with documentation. Extending the term would allow better implementation of programs and more time for monitoring and evaluation.”
She pointed out that many SK councils are still laying the groundwork for their development plans, and the extension would allow these to mature into sustainable efforts.
Liga ng mga Barangay president Maria Irene Ong echoed this view: “The postponement would benefit both new and incumbent barangay officials. Some haven’t even started implementing their development plans yet.”
While the bill is still awaiting the President’s signature, Ong said barangay leaders are preparing for both possibilities.
“We’re waiting for confirmation, but we are also getting ready in case elections push through in December,” she added.
Both Implica and Ong underscored that continuity in leadership would mean uninterrupted delivery of services and the sustained rollout of community programs.
Just last week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Iloilo City pressed forward with its 10-day voter registration drive for the BSKE, aiming to enlist at least 8,000 new voters.
Comelec Assistant II Jonathan Sayno said the registration period began on August 1 and will run until August 10 at designated satellite venues in four malls across the city.
“Voter registration will continue despite questions about whether the elections will proceed,” Sayno said. “Comelec is committed to completing the registration process to ensure we are fully prepared with an updated list of voters.”
The satellite registration schedule is as follows:
* Festive Walk Mall – August 1–2
* Robinsons Place Jaro – August 3–4
* SM City Iloilo – August 5–6
* Robinsons Place Iloilo (City Proper) – August 7–10
Registration is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including weekends and holidays. The City Comelec office will not accept registrants during this period.
Applicants are required to bring a government-issued ID and a photocopy. Those aged 15 or turning 15 on or before December 1, 2025 — the tentative election date — must also present a photocopy of their birth certificate.
Comelec is targeting around 1,000 registrants per day and has ensured that the process remains smooth and orderly, with special lanes for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
While no final decision has been made on whether the polls will push through, the Comelec maintains it must fulfill its constitutional duty to prepare for all electoral scenarios./PN
