The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is gearing up for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 30, expecting it to be “hotly contested” due to the personal nature of these polls.
In an ABS-CBN News report, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia emphasized the personal connections involved, as candidates are often family members, neighbors, and acquaintances. As the proclamation draws nearer, the electoral race heats up.
Prospective candidates for barangay and youth council positions begin the submission of their certificates of candidacy (COC) on Monday, coinciding with the implementation of the election gun ban.
The election period and gun ban will be in effect from August 28 to November 29, with COC filing scheduled between August 28 and September 2.
Upon COC submission, individuals officially become candidates and are restricted from campaigning, except within the designated period from October 19 to 28.
Further, Garcia underscored the significance of these elections, as community members often turn to local officials, particularly during times of crisis.
He also highlighted that the barangay serves as the frontline during the pandemic and other emergencies, reinforcing the vital role it plays in Filipino communities.
“Ang barangay ang frontliners natin sa panahon ng pandemya, naandyan sila. Sa panahon ng mga sunog, barangay ang ating nilalapitan. Kaya ganiyan po ka-importante ang barangay,” Garcia said.
