Manila, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is considering including a birth certificate as an additional requirement or document in the submission of a Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2026 and even in future elections.
Through the birth certificate, the COMELEC will be able to ensure the correct information of those filing COCs for BSKE 2026.
According to COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, the proposal aims to prevent cases of material misrepresentation, which often leads to the disqualification of some candidates.
In this it will be easier to find out the age, date of birth, and other information of candidates who will run for BSKE 2026.
The document will also serve as a basis to ensure that a candidate is qualified for the position or is underage for the position he wants to enter.
The birth certificate will also be a way to verify the citizenship of candidates and prevent non-Filipinos from running for any government position.
Meanwhile, it will be recalled that in August 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12232, which gives permission to postpone the December 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
And after a six-month postponement of the BSKE, it will fully begin on November 2, 2026.
The measure is expected to be implemented to strengthen the integrity of the elections and future elections in the country.—Grachella Corazon, Eurotv News