The Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) has begun inspecting public school classrooms that will be used as polling places for the Nov. 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Comelec-NIR regional election director Lionel Marco Castillano said Aug. 13 that more classrooms are needed after the poll body reduced the voter allocation in each precinct to allow voters more time to cast their ballots.
“The Comelec has reduced the number of voters to only 400 per precinct from 1,000 during the 2025 national and local elections as the BSKE will be conducted manually, hence requiring more time for the voters,” Castillano said.
He said the reduction in voter allocation means the number of classrooms needed for polling places will be more than double those used in the previous elections.
Voting hours will also be shortened to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the previous 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule, per a Philippine News Agency report.
Castillano said the shorter voting period is intended to provide the Board of Election Inspectors more time to count the ballots and the Barangay Board of Canvassers to canvass and proclaim the winners.
Election officers in cities and municipalities have been tasked to inspect the classrooms in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs).
Among the concerns being checked are the structural condition of classrooms, particularly those that may have been affected by typhoons and earthquakes, as well as electricity and other requirements.
Amid power supply concerns and possible interruptions due to manual load shedding, Castillano said he expects government guidelines to be issued to the power sector to ensure stable, reliable, and uninterrupted electricity during the BSKE.
Comelec-NIR records showed that as of Aug. 13, Negros Oriental has 6,110 established precincts and 2,945 clustered precincts for the barangay level, and 6,106 established precincts and 2,945 clustered precincts for the SK level.
In the 2025 elections, the province had 6,018 established precincts and 2,921 clustered precincts for the barangay level, and 6,015 established precincts and 2,921 clustered precincts for the SK level. ||
