The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) has authorized the transfer of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filing venues in several local government units (LGUs) to accommodate the expected surge in aspirants for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR regional election director, said in an interview Friday, Sept. 18, that COC filing is typically handled by the Office of the Election Officer in each town or city.
However, he said larger venues have been designated in some areas in anticipation of the number of candidates who will file their COCs.
“The Office of the Election Officer is not suitable to accommodate the large number of potential candidates; that is why we have to look for a venue with a bigger space,” Castillano said.
He said the BSKE typically draw numerous candidates because of the number of positions up for election in each barangay.
Comelec-NIR records showed that 10 LGUs in Negros Occidental have been authorized to transfer their COC filing locations.
These are Himamaylan City, where filing will be held at the Barangay 1 Covered Court and the Himamaylan Gymnasium; Hinoba-an, at the third-floor Conference Room of the New Municipal Building; Talisay City, at the Covered Court in the City Plaza; Murcia, at the Murcia Complex Building; Kabankalan City, at the Covered Court in Barangay Talubangi; Bacolod City, at the third floor of SM North, SM City; Bacolod City, at the Liga ng mga Barangay, Seawall Complex Center; Sagay City, at Tali-ambong in Barangay Poblacion II; Victorias City, at the Senior Citizens Pavilion in Barangay IV; and Cadiz City, at Balay Cadiznon in Barangay Zone 1.
The designated venues will accommodate COC filers from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, except for the Liga ng mga Barangay venue at the Seawall Complex Center in Bacolod City, which will be used only on the last day of filing.
In Negros Oriental, four LGUs have also been authorized to use alternative venues.
These are La Libertad, where filing will be held at the South Poblacion Auditorium instead of the second floor of the La Libertad Municipal Hall Annex Building; Siaton, at the second floor of the Siaton Public Market; Guihulngan City, at the City Gymnasium in Barangay Poblacion; and Bindoy, at the Municipal Gymnasium.
The alternative venues in La Libertad and Bindoy will be used from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5.
In Siaton, COC filing at the new venue will be held from Oct. 1 to 5, while Guihulngan City will use the City Gymnasium only on the last day of filing.
Before the scheduled dates, COC filing in these areas will be conducted at the respective election officer offices.
No venue transfer has been authorized for COC filing in Siquijor province.
Castillano urged BSKE aspirants to ensure their COCs and all required attachments are complete before filing to avoid delays and missing the deadline.*PNA
[sibwp_form id=1]