Comelec in Eastern Visayas continues preps for SK, barangay elections

TACLOBAN CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Eastern Visayas has continued its preparations for holding the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections amid moves by several lawmakers and even by local officials to cancel it.

Jenette Fariola Ruedas, information officer of the Comelec-Eastern Visayas, said they are now preparing the list of registered voters.

She said the final list of registered voters would be posted on September 6.

“The Commission on Elections continues its preparations for the barangay and SK elections while there is no law yet on the postponement. We hope that the decision will be out the soonest,” Ruedas said.

More than 253,000 prospective voters from various parts of the region have been listed by the poll body.

Several lawmakers and local officials were calling for the cancellation of the barangay and SK polls originally slated on December 5, 2022.

In the Eastern Visayas, Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez and Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan are among those seeking the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.

Gomez has filed a bill seeking the postponement of the barangay and SK elections to next year saying the money intended for such a political exercise could be spent for other government purposes like addressing the food security program.

For her part, Governor Tan said the barangay and SK polls should be moved to at least next year, considering that the country had just conducted a presidential election.

“It’s better we sort of settle things first, like putting into place our programs. [Then,] hopefully, we can have the elections by next year,” she said.

If the December 5 election will not be canceled, the filing of certificates of candidacy for those who will be running for positions in the barangay and SK elections will be from October 6 to 13.

/MUF