Comelec eyes malls as COC filing venues for BSKE

FILE: The Register Anywhere Project of the Commission on Elections makes it convenient for a senior citizen to register at a mall in Binondo, Manila on Thursday (Jan. 26, 2023). Voters’ registration and other related applications will be accepted until Jan. 31 only, but could be extended in areas where suspension was declared due to calamities or the like. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to tap private establishments such as malls as venues for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said they are planning to initially implement the measure in Manila, where their local office has limited space to accommodate COC filers (village and youths polls aspirants), which they estimate to be over 40,000.

“The number one example is our Manila Field Office in Arroceros, which is a small space but six offices are occupying it, Manila’s District 1 to 6. On the average, according to our Election Officer (EO) they receive some 28,000 COCs for barangay only,” he said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.

“We are planning, for example in District 1, they may go to Lucky Chinatown, each District will have their own venue (mall), either SM Manila, SM San Lazaro, Robinsons Manila,” the poll body official added.

He said they understand the situation of their local offices, especially those with a limited space.

“It’s very difficult to accommodate many filers, in our Manila field office some 28,000 bets for barangay posts are expected to file, if we include SK candidates, we are looking at 40,000 COCs, and that’s only in Manila,” Laudiangco added.

The Comelec has set the filing of COCs for the October 30 polls from August 28 to September 2.

Meanwhile, Laudiangco noted that they are ready for the holding of the BSKE.

“As for the Barangay and SK elections, it’s all systems go. All the ballots, accountable forms have been printed and majority are already been packed. We will print additional 1.6 million ballots, these are the new registrants, those who were reinstated and reactivated,” the Comelec spokesperson added.

He said the last phase of the preparation is the training of the teachers who will be serving as Electoral Boards, which is set before October.

“They will be trained on how to appreciate and count the ballots since it will be manual elections,” Laudiangco added.