THE Commission on Election in Central Visayas (Comelec 7) has reported a successful 2025 midterm election as the region saw high voter turnout, few election-related incidents and smooth coordination among government agencies.
During the exit conference of the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) 7 in Cebu City on June 3, 2025, Comelec 7 Director Francisco Pobe presented comparative data for the 2019, 2022 and 2025 elections where voter turnout in Central Visayas increased over the last three election cycles.
For the 2025 elections, the region recorded an 86.52 percent voter turnout, surpassing the Comelec’s projection of a 75–80 percent turnout. Of the 4,389,344 registered voters in Central Visayas, 3,797,563 cast their votes.
Pobe said the consistent rise in voter participation indicates increased civic engagement and political maturity among the electorate.
He attributed the high turnout to intensified public awareness campaigns, early voting measures and the pilot use of mall voting in certain precincts.
In the 2019 midterm elections, Central Visayas had a 79.75 percent voter turnout. Out of 4,946,261 registered voters, 3,944,864 voted. This percentage significantly increased in the 2022 Presidential elections, reaching 85.03 percent. In 2022, 4,463,105 individuals voted from a total of 5,249,066 registered voters.
“What is significant is that we are going to look at the elections in 2019 and 2025 because these are midterm elections… There is a big disparity in the results,” said Pobe.
The region experienced a decrease in total registered voters for the 2025 polls as the 2019 and 2022 data included voters from Siquijor and Negros Oriental Province, prior to the creation of the Negros Island Region.
Cebu
In Cebu Province, nine local government units reported voter turnouts of 90 percent or higher in the recent election. These were the towns of Asturias, Badian, Borbon, Catmon, Dalaguete, Moalboal, Tabogon, Tabuelan, and Samboan.
Early and special voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. which accommodated seniors, persons with disabilities, and pregnant voters played a part in the voter participation with 292,465 voters casting their votes—82,209 in Bohol and over 210,000 in Cebu.
Meanwhile, pilot mall voting at Robinsons Galleria Cebu and SM City Consolacion had a combined 289 voters participation from select clustered precincts.
Voters from Barangays Parian in Cebu City and Pitogo in Consolacion were among those included in this pilot run. The overall turnout for mall voting was reported at 77.17 percent.
All electoral board members, teachers and volunteers who served as facilitators during the midterm election, have received their full compensation within the 15-day deadline.
As of May 29, 2025, at least 200 candidates filed their statements of contributions and expenditures, as mandated by law, before the June 12 deadline.
Pobe also said election-related incidents in the region were described as “minimal to negligible,” with no reported failures of election or major breakdowns of voting machines.
“Notable but resolved” issues included the misdelivery of official ballots reported in Candijay, Bohol; and in the towns of San Fernando, Aloguinsan, Bantayan, San Remigio and Tabuelan in Cebu.
A technical glitch with a USB drive for an automated counting machine also occurred in Pinamungajan town.
Eleven vote-buying-related incidents were recorded, with six inquest cases filed; while five voters were issued show-cause orders.
Pobe underscored the importance of “two-way communication” from precincts to the regional level. Proper communication helped resolve challenges swiftly, he said.
He credited the combined efforts of the Comelec and RJSCC officials that included the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Education, Department of Justice, and Department of Health.
He also commended the Philippine Information Agency, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, National Movement for Free Elections and Cebu-Citizens Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation for election monitoring and public information dissemination.
Meanwhile, Pobe announced a tentative schedule for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, pending Congress’ action on possible postponements:
Voter registration: July 1–11, 2025;
Filing of candidacy: October 1–7, 2025;
Campaign period: Nov. 20–29, 2025; and
Election Day: Dec. 1, 2025. / EHP