The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines has announced the suspension of nationwide voter registration that was slated for July 1 to 11. This suspension is part of the preparations for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), scheduled for December.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia confirmed that the voter registration will now take place in the last week of October, following the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, and will remain open until July 2026.

Garcia noted that the rescheduled voter registration is intended to facilitate the BSKE in November 2026, contingent on the passage of a measure aimed at extending the terms of barangay officials.

Currently, that proposed measure has yet to receive Presidential approval from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The commission plans to continue preparations for the December BSKE elections, despite the suspension of voter registration.

Garcia stated that halting preparations entirely could lead to complications, particularly if the President does not enact the proposed law or if a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court is issued, recalling an earlier instance where a TRO delayed the 2022 BSKE elections.

To mitigate potential risks, Garcia mentioned that the Comelec would incorporate a provision in its procurement contracts that would allow for cancellation in case of unforeseen events.

This statement underscores the commission’s commitment to moving forward with logistics and preparations.

Additionally, the Comelec will maintain its current plan for the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, proceeding with the existing 73-member composition, as no new legislation has been enacted to adjust for the seven contested seats from Sulu.

As a result, the Comelec has decided against reopening the filing of certificates of candidacy for the forthcoming Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in October.

In other developments, a senior member of the administration has called on President Marcos to sign House Bill 11287, which seeks to shift the BSKE date from December 1, 2025, to the first Monday of November 2026, while extending the terms of barangay and SK officials.

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez argued that delaying the elections would alleviate potential financial burdens, asserting that conducting three major elections in one year could incur substantial costs.

Rodriguez's comments followed criticisms from election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who has expressed opposition to the proposed bill.

The proposal's supporters maintain that it would ensure elected officials serve a complete three-year term, as opposed to a shortened term that would result from proceeding with the scheduled elections in December.

House Bill 11287, principally authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez, includes provisions for term limits of two terms for barangay officials and one term for SK officials, along with a framework for future BSK elections to occur every six years beginning in May 2029. The bill seeks to amend the Local Government Code of 1991, extending the terms of officials elected in the upcoming October 2023 elections until May 2029, thereby promoting continuity in local governance and projects.