The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Tuesday that preparations for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for this December will continue, despite ongoing efforts to postpone the polls.
“We don’t allow these developments in Congress to affect our ongoing preparations for the BSKE,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an online interview.
Garcia was referring to the House of Representatives’ approval of a bill seeking to extend the term of incumbent barangay and SK officials, which, if enacted, would move the next BSKE to May 2029.
Garcia emphasized that until such a law is passed, the Comelec “has no choice but to prepare for the BSKE” set for Dec. 1. He added that suspending preparations “would be riskier.”
Garcia also noted that indelible ink and ballot boxes have already been purchased for the upcoming BSKE.