First-time voters line up to register for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections at Pinaglabanan Elementary School in San Juan City on Friday, August 1, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – With the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) officially postponed, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stopped most of its preparations for the polls that were supposed to be held on November 2.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said Saturday the poll body immediately acted after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the postponement law, holding a special en banc session to formally halt the preparations.
“Dahil gumamit ng salitang ‘therefore,’ kahit ito Official Gazette lamang, epektibo na ang batas,” Garcia said in a DZMM interview.
“Kahapon kami may special en banc session kung kaya kaagad kami nagpulong at nagdesisyon, mag-issue ng isang resolusyon dahil epektibo na ang batas na i-terminate, pahintuin ang lahat ng paghahanda na meron tayo sa Barangay at SK,” Garcia added.
One immediate effect of the postponement is the cancellation of the filing of certificates of candidacy, which was supposed to start on Monday, September 28 and run until October 5.
Garcia reminded those planning to run in the BSKE that they no longer need to file their candidacies on those dates.
“Lalong-lalo na ang filing ng candidacy na mangyayari dapat next week mula po Lunes, September 28 hanggang October 5. So inuulit po natin sa mga kababayan natin may intention sanang tumakbo, mag-file ng kanilang kandidatura, hindi na po ito matutuloy sa September 28 hanggang October 5, wala na po ito,” he said.
Other Comelec activities related to the 2026 polls have also been canceled.
However, the poll body will continue with the printing of voter lists that can still be used in the rescheduled elections.
“‘Yung mga ilang aktibidad natin, kinansela na rin po natin lahat-lahat. Maliban na lang sa ongoing printing namin ng mga pangalan ng mga butante na ipapaskil sa labas ng presinto at sa loob, pinatuloy na po natin ‘yan,” Garcia said.
“Kasi magagamit pa rin namin ‘yan sa isang reset na Barangay at SK Elections sa 2028, dadagdagan na lang ng mga dagdag na butante kapag tayo nagparehistro muli,” Garcia added.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BALLOTS AND OTHER MATERIALS?
Comelec said election materials already prepared for the November 2 polls will not simply be discarded.
Instead, ballots and other supplies will be properly packed and stored for possible use in the rescheduled BSKE.
“‘Yung mga gamit tulad lalo na ng balota, ipinaiimpake namin na maayos at pinahahanda po namin na ‘yan ay ma-store nang maayos sa warehouse po ng Commission on Elections,” Garcia said.
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Some materials may carry the original November 2, 2026 election date. Garcia said Comelec can issue a resolution allowing these materials to be used for the rescheduled elections.
“Maaaring ang naka-imprinta diyan na date ay November 2, 2026. Subalit katulad ng mga nakakaraan o na-postpone rin, nag-i-issue ang Comelec ng isang resolusyon kung saan sinasabi namin kung ano’y na-imprinta para sa November 2, 2026, Barangay at SK Elections ay siyang gagamitin ng mga balota sa isang reset na election,” he said.
The rescheduled BSKE is set for November 2028 under the new law.
Comelec is also looking into extending the warranty of election equipment and supplies to make sure their quality will be preserved while in storage.
“Nanghihingi kami ng pahintulot sa ating provider na baka pwede ang warranty sa halip na 1 taon gawin ng 2-3 taon para sure kung may makompromiso ng quality o kalidad, papalitan nila,” Garcia said.
Although preparations have been stopped, Garcia said Comelec is also mindful that the postponement law could be challenged before the Supreme Court.
“Meron pupunta sa SC at siguradong kakwestiyonin itong bagong batas nito,” he said. “Siyempre hindi natin dapat ibaliwala na maaaring may mangyayari, ma-issue na order or whatever ang kataastaasang hukuman.”
For now, however, Garcia said Comelec has to follow the new law.
NEXT BSKE
Garcia said the new law fixes the next BSKE in 2028, but Congress retains the power to amend laws governing the terms of barangay and SK officials.
He pointed to Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution, which provides that local elective officials generally have three-year terms, “except barangay officials which may be fixed by law.”
Unlike the terms of mayors and governors, which are constitutionally set at three years, the terms of barangay officials may therefore be determined through legislation.
Garcia said this means Congress could still amend the law in the future.
“Lahat ng batas ay pwedeng ma-amend or ma-revise depende sa sitwasyon sa bawat pagkakataon o sa bawat Kongreso,” he said.
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