By CESAR JOLITO III

The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is pressing ahead with its preparations for the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), despite circulating rumors that the polls may be postponed or canceled.

In an interview, Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano emphasized that preparations will continue unless a law is formally enacted mandating the deferment of the elections scheduled for November 2, 2026.

“Until there is a law stating otherwise, we will proceed with all preparations,” Castillano said, underscoring the agency’s commitment to ensuring readiness.

He recalled a similar situation in 2010, when preparations were halted due to expectations of a postponement that ultimately did not materialize.

The decision to stop early preparations at the time led to operational challenges when the elections were pushed through.

Despite the ongoing speculation, Comelec-NIR has maintained its timeline, including the continuation of voter registration, which began last year.

Ballot printing is also underway, with most of the required ballots already produced.

Only those for newly registered voters this year remain to be printed.

Meanwhile, Castillano noted that procurement activities for election materials are still pending, particularly for supplies that are easily damaged.

The agency is also planning to purchase new ballot boxes to replace units that are already worn out or unusable.

Comelec reiterated its call for the public to rely only on official announcements, stressing that any decision to postpone the BSKE will require legislative action.

Until then, the poll body remains focused on ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process./CJ, WDJ