Comelec-Iloilo City misses target for BSKE registration

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Iloilo City said it failed to meet its target voter registration count for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) despite recording 7,007 registrants.

Jonathan Sayno, assistant officer II of Comelec-Iloilo City, told Daily Guardian on Aug. 12 that the office had aimed for 10,000 registrations during the 10-day period from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10.

Sayno said the lower turnout could be tied to reports of a possible postponement of the BSKE, originally set for Dec. 1, 2025, to November 2026.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the law postponing the BSKE this month.

“There are individuals who opted not to register because of the reports on the possible postponement,” he said.

Sayno noted that turnout was low in the first six days since registration was held on weekdays while students had classes.

Higher numbers were recorded starting Aug. 8 and over the weekend.

On the final day, Aug. 10, the office registered 1,794 applicants.

Of the total registrants, 90.82% were new voters, 4.25% were reactivations, and 3.14% were applications for change of name or correction of entries.

Among new registrants, 3,272 were aged 15 to 17 and eligible only for the SK elections, while 3,092 were regular voters.

Sayno said some applications were not accepted due to incomplete requirements, particularly the lack of birth certificates for first-time voters.

Unlike in other areas where registration turned chaotic, Sayno said the process in Iloilo City remained orderly.

The main challenge was handling the large number of applicants on the last day, prompting a cut-off time that left about 500 people unable to register.

If the BSKE is postponed to November 2026, the Comelec announced that voter registration will resume in the third week of October 2025 and continue until July 2026.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the schedule will begin after the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections in mid-October 2025 and run until the following July.