Negros island region: The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is actively engaging in preparations for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), despite the looming possibility of its postponement to 2026. Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, the regional election director for Comelec-NIR, emphasized the need for readiness in light of potential legal challenges that may arise as some groups plan to seek a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court against the delay.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castillano mentioned that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the bill to postpone the BSKE by Thursday. However, if the President is unable to sign it, the bill will automatically become law. To avoid being caught unprepared, Comelec-NIR is focusing on the re-clustering of voting precincts to match the required number of voters for the elections.

For the upcoming BSKE, each clustered precinct will accommodate only 400 voters, a significant reduction from the 1,000 voters allowed during the May 12 national and local elections. This adjustment necessitates the reassignment of newly registered voters to their respective precincts once their registration is approved by the Election Registration Board.

During the August 1-10 registration period for the BSKE, the Comelec-NIR recorded over 130,000 applicants across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. Detailed records provided by Castillano revealed that Negros Occidental registered 78,315 applicants, Negros Oriental had 47,633, and Siquijor added 4,418, culminating in a total of 130,366 registrants.