The Commission on Elections (COMELEC-Iloilo City) expects at least 8,000 aspirants to file their certificate of candidacy (CoC) for various posts in connection with the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.

In an interview on Monday, Aug. 7, Election Officer II Jonathan Sayno said those interested to run for the election can already secure a form from the Comelec office in preparation for the filing of CoCs on Aug. 28 to Sept. 2.

Sayno said should one slate has 16 candidates and at least two or more groups will join the poll, they then expect the number of candidates in the city’s 180 barangays to be between 7,000 to 8,000.

A barangay council is composed of one barangay captain and seven councilors, while the Sangguniang Kabataan has one chairperson and seven councilors.

Fifty-four barangay captains of the city’s 180 barangays are in their last term, based on the data provided by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Meanwhile, the venue for the filing of COC will be held at the Robinsons Mall Cinema 5 and 6, Sayno said, adding that the Comelec office at the Iloilo terminal market is under rehabilitation.

Sayno was also hopeful that 80 to 85 percent of the 333,534 registered voters, including the 90,000 SK voters, would cast their votes since barangay elections are considered a “family matter.” Perla Lena/PNA