Manila: The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is gearing up for the clustering of voting precincts for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), an official said Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR regional election director, stated that a team will arrive next week in Negros Oriental to undertake the clustering of new precincts. This adjustment is necessary for the upcoming BSKE.
"This is a new clustering activity as only 400 voters are accommodated in one precinct compared to 1,000 voters during the May 12 national and local elections, as this is manual polling," said Castillano, who is also a lawyer. Additionally, new voters who registered from August 1 to 10 for the BSKE will be included in this process.
The Comelec central office team will oversee the clustering of precincts to determine the necessary ballot boxes and election paraphernalia for the barangay and SK polls.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12232 on August 13, which moves the BSKE from December 2025 to November 2026, and sets the term of office for village and youth officials at four years.
Meanwhile, the Comelec official mentioned ongoing preparations for the BSKE in case it occurs on December 1 this year, as previously scheduled. The poll body is currently awaiting a Supreme Court decision on a petition challenging the constitutionality of the law postponing the BSKE.
