bske

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Davao reminded residents to register before the deadline on May 18.The nationwide voter registration started on Oct. 20,2025 and will last until May 18, 2026.

Comelec Davao assistant director Gay Enumerables reported that the office processed 107,069 voter applications from October until Feb. 14.

Enumerables said these include new registrations, transfers, reactivations and correction of entries.

First-time voters, aged 15 to 17 who are eligible for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections can register for the November 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Enumerables said the Comelec offices are open from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The filing of Certificate of Candidacies will start on Sept. 28 until Oct. 5. The campaign is prohibited from Sept. 28 -Oct 21.

The election period and gun ban start from Oct. 3 to Nov. 9, 2026, while the official campaign period is from Oct 22-31.On the eve of the election day on Nov. 1, liquor ban will be observed and campaigning is prohibited.

With the elections set on Nov. 2, the deadline for Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) filing is set on Dec. 2.

To note, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law in August 2025 the Republic Act No. 12232, postponing the December 2025 BSKE and moving to the first Monday of November 2026.

Under RA 12232, regular BSKE will be held every four years thereafter.

The law mandates that the term of office of all elected barangay and SK officials shall be four years.

VOTERS who are 18 years old do not need to register again as regular voters, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) XI reiterated on Monday.

Atty. Gay Enumerables, Comelec XI assistant regional election director, said Sangguniang Kabataan voters eligible to vote in the barangay elections need not register again.

“They don’t need to register again because they are already in our database,” Enumerables said.

“Automatic pag 18 nila tagged ba sila as regular voters, pwede na sila mag participate sa BSKE because they are considered voters sa BSKE,” she added.

Aged 15-17 are allowed to vote for SK but not for barangay officials. Once they turn 18, they can vote for the barangay chairman and councilors.

Regular voters who are eligible to vote for barangay officials are those aged at least 18.

However, only those 15-30 years old are allowed to vote for the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

To note, the Comelec resumed its voter registration activities nationwide, which run from August 1-10.

Davao region recorded a total of 17,783 applications processed from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3.

Of the number, Davao City catered 5,050, while Davao del Sur processed 3,426; Davao del Norte (3,162); Davao de Oro (2,365); Davao Oriental (2,010); and Davao Occidental (1,770).

Enumerables reminded those who have yet to register to visit their Comelec offices before the deadline.

She stressed the local government can initiate a free shuttle service to assist its voters from far-flung areas.

Asked if this will be tagged as early campaigning, she said the practice can be done since it is not yet the campaign period.

The Comelec will continue the voter registration and election preparations amid confirmation from Malacañang that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign into law on Aug. 12 the measure postponing the BSKE.

If law is signed, BSKE will officially reset from Dec. 1, 2025 elections to November 2026 and extend the term of barangay and SK officials from three to four years.

Comelec Davao urge voters to register before May 18 deadline

Comelec: 18-year-old voters automatically included on barangay list