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| Tacloban’s COMELEC office gears up for the filing of candidacies for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on August 28. Photo: BSKE/Facebook |
TACLOBAN CITY – The local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office is in full preparation mode for the filing of candidacies for the forthcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangays Election on Monday, August 28.
In the "Oras han Tacloban" radio segment by the City Information Office, City Election Officer, Atty. Ma. Goretti Cañas, anticipates around 4,416 individuals to file during the 6-day Certificate of Candidacy (COC) period. This event is scheduled to take place at the Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome) and will last until September 2.
Security will be robust, with personnel from the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard ensuring the venue's safety. Significantly, no barangay in Tacloban is tagged as an election hotspot, positioning the city under the green category.
During the filing days, the election office aims to process approximately 700 applications daily, between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Atty. Cañas emphasized the importance of accurately completing the COC forms, requiring three copies for submission. Incomplete or erroneously filled-out COCs won't be accepted, and a documentary stamp is mandatory for validation.
For Barangay elections, candidates must be:
- Filipino citizens
- Registered voters in the respective barangay
- Barangay residents for at least 1 year preceding the election
- Literate in Filipino or any local dialect
- Minimum 18 years old on election day
For the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, aspirants should be:
- Filipino citizens
- Qualified katipunan ng kabataan voters
- Barangay residents for a minimum of 1 year before the election
- Aged between 18 and 24 on election day
- Proficient in Filipino, English, or the local dialect
- Not related within the 2nd civil degree to any sitting elected official, national or local
- Without any conviction involving moral turpitude
As the filing concludes, candidates must refrain from campaigning until the official campaign period between October 19–28. Any premature campaigning activities will lead to disqualification. The Barangay and SK elections are scheduled for October 30, 2023, running from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. —iTacloban (Source: CIO)