By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Based on data from the Negros Occidental Commission on Elections (Comelec), a total of 23,548 will be running in next month’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

A total of 1,545 will be seeking the position of barangay captain, while 13,127 will be running for kagawad.

In terms of the SK elections, 1,559 will be running for chairman, while 7,316 will be considered for kagawad.

Bacolod City has the largest number of candidates in the province with 2,985, an increase from initial data previously reported.

Meanwhile, a total of 114,385 candidates are registered throughout the Western Visayas, with Iloilo boasting the most candidates among provinces, with 32,567 candidates in the barangay elections and 16,383 in the SK elections.

The campaign period is scheduled to take place between May 4 and May 12, with election day set for May 14./DGB, WDJ