ILOILO – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Region 6 is pushing full steam ahead with the November 2, 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), refusing to factor proposed postponements into its preparations unless Congress enacts a law resetting the polls.
Comelec-6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan said election offices across the region are already at the height of preparations, with nearly all pre-election activities completed.
“We are on election mode. We are at the height of our preparation and actually almost of the all pre-election activities and preparations that we need to undergo and undertake we have already done,” Ausan said.
The regional poll body is now awaiting final guidance from the Comelec Central Office before beginning the training of electoral boards, particularly teachers who will manage polling places across Western Visayas on election day.
“Actually at this point of time, it’s a matter of waiting for the final guidance or general instruction from the Main Office for us to start the training of the electoral board, the teachers who will be manning the different polling places for the November 2 elections. So, wala kami ya naga-entertenar sang postponement,” Ausan said.
He stressed that Comelec-6 would change course only if a law postponing the elections is eventually enacted. Until then, its working assumption remains that millions of voters will go to the polls on Nov. 2.
While declining to officially comment on the proposed postponement in his capacity as regional election director, Ausan said personally that he does not favor another delay because registered voters should be allowed to exercise their right of suffrage.
He noted that the last SK elections were held in 2023 and that some incumbent youth officials may already be working elsewhere or may have started their own families.
Ausan also addressed arguments that the BSKE should be postponed because of rising oil prices triggered by the Middle East crisis, saying funds appropriated specifically for elections cannot simply be diverted to other purposes.
Meanwhile, Comelec chairperson George Garcia warned that postponing the November elections could render useless some of the P8 billion the poll body has already spent for preparations.
“We simply state that the Comelec has already spent P8 billion. Our budget for the BSKE is P19 billion, leaving a balance of P11 billion. Of that, P9 billion is allocated for teachers’ honoraria, PHP1 billion for training, and PHP1 billion for deployment expenses,” Garcia said.
“So, regarding that P8 billion, it would truly go to waste if the November elections do not proceed,” he added.
Garcia said Comelec is fully prepared for the elections, with a substantial portion of the P8 billion already used for equipment and other preparations.
“Some of that will be wasted — ballpens and indelible ink can dry out. While the printed ballots could potentially be used later if the election is postponed, we have already incurred overtime costs for personnel that cannot be recovered. Those expenses would be for nothing if a postponement occurs,” he said.
He stressed, however, that the ultimate decision rests with Congress.
“That is a highly political issue. We cannot interfere in that matter. What we want to convey is that the Comelec is fully prepared to conduct the elections on Nov. 2,” Garcia said.
“We do not concern ourselves with the rumors or proposals suggesting the elections might not push through,” he added.
Garcia said another postponement would mark the second time the grassroots elections have been deferred.
“There was an election in 2023; there should have been another in 2025, but the BSKE was reset to 2026. That is entirely within Congress’ discretion,” he said.
Senator Francis Escudero has filed a measure seeking to extend the terms of barangay and SK officials from four to five years, while a similar proposal in the House of Representatives seeks to postpone the Nov. 2 elections until 2028.
Ausan, meanwhile, urged prospective BSKE candidates to visit their local election offices early to familiarize themselves with election rules and filing requirements, including additional documents such as a certificate of live birth./PN
