By CESAR JOLITO III
The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) reported a strong turnout in the recently concluded 10-day voter registration for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), with a majority of applicants coming from the youth.
“It’s a good sign that the youth are now actively participating in our election processes,” Comelec-NIR Director Lionel Marco Castillano said on the last day of registration on Sunday, August 10.
Castillano noted that most areas in the NIR, including Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, saw a smooth process, with registration extended until 8:00 p.m. due to long lines, except in the capital town of Siquijor.
Comelec-NIR recorded 234,032 voter applicants in the NIR, based on data from the Comelec national office as of yesterday.
Of the number, Negros Occidental logged the most number of registrants in NIR with 78,313.
Highly urbanized Bacolod City has recorded a total of 6,312 registrants.
It was followed by Negros Oriental with 37,982, and Siquijor with 3,660.
A total of 53,992 of the registrants are female, and 50,210 are male.
In July, the Comelec-NIR said they were expecting only about a “five percent increase or even less in the number of registrants” as the Comelec had also excluded the transfer of voters this time.
Castillano said they are continuing with the preparations for the BSKE originally set for December 1, this year, pending the final decision of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
“Other election activities continue, such as the inventory and procurement of yellow ballot boxes,” Castillano said in an interview.
The uncertainty arises from a bill seeking to postpone the elections, which is still awaiting Marcos’ signature.
Comelec’s preparations are also aligned with early groundwork for the 2028 national elections, making this registration drive an important step toward ensuring a clean and updated voter registry.
In Bacolod, the rush to register for the BSKE turned chaotic early Saturday, August 9.
Witnesses said many young registrants camped outside the mall the night before, prompting security concerns.
The mall’s security staff struggled to manage the crowd as people rushed to secure spots in line, forcing Comelec-Bacolod to seek police assistance.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya personally visited the venue the evening before the registration’s last day, and ordered the installation of portalets and iron railings to maintain order and safety.
Police and emergency responders have since been deployed, with additional personnel expected in the final two days of registration to handle the anticipated surge.
Bacolod Councilor Ceasar Distrito, a former city election officer, urged Comelec to revise its system to better accommodate large urban crowds.
Meanwhile, a female registrant collapsed after reportedly queuing overnight without eating meals outside a shopping mall in Mandalagan.
She was quickly assisted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and is now in a stable condition. / With reports from PNA /CJ, WDJ