Baguio city: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has reported a total of 1,482,076 registered voters as of April 20. This announcement follows the Election Registration Board's (ERB) hearing, which approved the list of voters for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
According to Philippines News Agency, the regional director of Comelec-CAR, Lawyer Julius Torres, stated that there are 1,093,162 voters registered for the barangay elections and 388,914 for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. This marks an increase from the 1,105,063 total registered voters during the 2025 elections across all Cordillera provinces.
From the previous ERB hearing until May 18, which was the last day of registration, a total of 25,356 applicants will be reviewed for approval during the upcoming June 1 hearing. Torres emphasized that provincial, city, and municipal election officers have been conducting satellite registration activities since October. These efforts were made to ensure accessibility and encourage voter registration. Despite these efforts, many applicants arrived at the last minute, missing the cut-off.
Torres clarified that those accommodated on the final day are not automatically approved, as all applications are subject to the ERB's approval. The board's final hearing on June 1 will establish the definitive list of eligible voters for the BSKE.
"The only challenge we encountered in the six months of registration is the influx of applicants on the last day, especially in Baguio City and Tabuk City, Kalinga," Torres noted. He advised those who were not accommodated to register early when voter registration reopens before the 2028 national and local elections.
The filing period for certificates of candidacy for the BSKE is set from September 28 to October 5, with the elections scheduled for November 2.
In a related development, John Paul Martin, the election supervisor for Mountain Province, announced plans to intensify information campaigns and voter education. These efforts aim to encourage voter participation and the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for elective barangay seats.
"We want to encourage especially the SK to run for office. We will be distributing COCs during voters' education activities so that they can also be encouraged and prepare the documents needed like the birth certificate," Martin said.
Martin, who has served Comelec-Baguio for nearly a decade, highlighted issues such as the lack of SK officials in many barangays, which hinders their ability to conduct business and utilize SK funds. He attributed this to factors including the anti-political dynasty provision of the SK Reform Act and the age limitation, which affects young individuals who are either fresh graduates or starting their careers.
