THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering automating the December 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) following the successful automation of the May 12 national and local elections.
In an interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia called for the automation of the BSKE, citing the benefits of the recent midterm polls.
"If we automate the BSKE, the results will come in faster. There won't be violence, ballot snatching, threat, intimidation, or killings. There will be fewer issues if the process is faster," said Garcia.
He noted that BSKE does not require transmission, as canvassing occurs at voting centers.
"The canvassing and the proclamation are held within the barangay so we don't need to have transmission," said Garcia.
Comelec pilot-tested automated BSKE in October 2023 which occurred in two barangays (Barangays Zone II Poblacion and Paliparan III) in DasmariƱas City, Cavite, and in one barangay (Barangay Pasong Tamo) in the 6th District of Quezon City.
"It was very successful as the proclamation happened so fast. We really saw the difference between the two (manual and automated) systems," said Garcia.
He acknowledged that automation requires more funding than manual elections.
"Of course, it is more economical if we go manual instead of automated," he said.
For now, Garcia said the Comelec has started preparing for a full manual village and youth polls come December 1. (Anton Banal/SunStar Philippines)