The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental has moved forward with operational preparations for the upcoming filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) ahead of the November Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), despite ongoing discussions regarding a potential delay.
Atty. Eddie Aba, the provincial election supervisor for Comelec-Negros Oriental, emphasized that official timelines remain in effect until formal directives state otherwise.
“Until such time that we receive a formal announcement from the COMELEC as to the postponement of the BSKE, we will continue with our activities calendared for the said elections,” Aba stated.
The scheduled period for aspirants to submit their COCs spans from September 28 to October 5, followed by the campaign duration from October 22 through October 31.
Pre-election arrangements are currently underway, including a comprehensive audit of office hardware across the province. Aba noted that assessing both functional and non-functional computer units represents an integral phase of the candidacy filing preparation, while clarifying that equipment checks are conducted annually regardless of whether an election takes place.
Furthermore, local election authorities have completed inspecting official ballot boxes designated for the manual voting scheduled for November 2.
Prospective candidates are urged to secure their paperwork early and visit local election offices for assistance. Aba highlighted that submitting a birth certificate alongside the candidacy form is now a mandatory requirement for the BSKE and subsequent electoral races.
In line with overall readiness, Comelec-Negros Island Region Regional Director Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano spearheaded a joint initiative at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office on August 26 to strengthen inter-agency coordination and law enforcement preparedness for the 2026 local polls.