BSKE Ready? COMELEC Chief Garcia Says Preps Are already at ‘Level 9’!

“At the level of 1 to 10, we are already at 9 in terms of preparation,” Garcia said.

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia emphasized that the poll body continues to prepare for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) based on the law currently in effect.

Speaking to the media at the COMELEC Main Office in Intramuros, Manila, on September 18, Garcia said the decision on whether the BSKE will proceed or be postponed does not rest with COMELEC, but with Congress.

Garcia explained that, as of September 18, the elections were still scheduled for November 2, prompting COMELEC to continue its preparations.

He stressed that COMELEC’s actions are guided by the law in force each day. While the poll body must prepare for the scheduled elections, Garcia said those preparations would immediately stop if Congress enacted a new law changing the election schedule or fixing the terms.

For COMELEC, the message is clear: prepare according to the law, remain ready for any change in legislation, and implement whatever Congress ultimately provides.

— COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia
Media interview, COMELEC Main Office, Intramuros, Manila
September 18, 2026