Comelec eyes longer hours for 2025 BSKE satellite registration sites

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing on extending the operating hours of its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) for next month's 10-day nationwide voter registration for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Tuesday said the poll body is considering opening satellite registration sites in the National Capital Region (NCR) from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. 

This is apart from its regular operating hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Ang plano namin is 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. May mga tauhan kami na specifically sa mga piling lugar na yan ay tatambay. Magtatayo kami ng mga booth para dun makapagpa-rehistro ang mga kababayan natin,” Garcia said.

(Our plan is to extend from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. We will deploy personnel in selected sites where we will set up our booths for voter registration.)

“Yan po ay para makapag-cater sa mga kababayan natin na hindi na talaga nakakakuha ng panahon para pumunta sa local Comelec office para makapagpa-rehistro,” he said.

(That would cater to young Filipinos who cannot go to their local Comelec offices to register.)

The poll body is set to resume the voters’ registration for the BSKE from August 1 to August 10 after it was suspended following the ratification of a bicameral conference committee report seeking to extend the term of office for barangay and SK officials from three to four years, and postpone the elections to the first Monday of November 2026. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to issue a decision whether to approve or veto the proposed measure.

Meanwhile, Garcia reiterated the RAP will be opened in Metro Manila from August 1 to August 7. He also said the Comelec is expecting Marcos to decide on the proposed measure at “any moment”, adding there is “no indication” from Malacañang it will be vetoed.

“As far as the Comelec is concerned, kung gugustuhin na ituloy, handa kami. Pero kung gustong ipagpaliban, mas makakapaghanda kami,” he added.

(As far as the Comelec is concerned, we are ready if they want to continue now. If they want to postpone, then we will have longer time for preparations.)

The 2025 BSKE is scheduled on December 1, 2025. — RF, GMA Integrated News