Ananoria takes concurrent Comelec-Bacolod post

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Greg Gasataya has assured full support for Negros Occidental Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria, who is concurrently serving as acting election officer of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bacolod City.

Ananoria met with Gasataya on Monday at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) to discuss the possible transfer of the Comelec-Bacolod office to a more accessible location.

Ananoria assumed the post vacated by former election officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña, who recently resigned to serve as clerk of court of Regional Trial Court Branch 52 in Bacolod after six years with Comelec-Bacolod.

Ananoria commended Caña’s leadership, saying she had performed well and left big shoes to fill.

He said the office would continue the kind of public service Caña had demonstrated during her tenure.

Ananoria was installed as provincial election supervisor of Aklan in 2009.

He later became Negros Occidental provincial election supervisor before the 2022 elections and continues to serve in that position.

Meanwhile, Comelec continues preparations for the Nov. 2, 2026, Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) despite congressional moves to reset the polls.

“As of now, we are focused, full steam ahead. Unless there is a law passed resetting the barangay elections,” Ananoria said.

Under existing law, the next regular BSKE is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2026, with barangay and SK officials serving four-year terms.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have approved measures seeking to move the elections to November 2028.

However, Comelec must continue preparing for the polls under the existing law unless legislation changing the election schedule takes effect.

The filing of certificates of candidacy is scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 if no new law changing the election date takes effect before then.