Just two months after this year’s national elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bohol is now gearing up for the barangay polls.

According to Provincial Elections Officer Atty. Elesio Labaria, the local Comelec is still awaiting instructions from the poll body’s head office if there will be changes in the operation and regulation of the barangay elections including the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls which will be held in October this year.

It is expected that those who would want to vote during the barangay and SK polls can start to register in July.

The postponement of the activity was previously considered as officials were wary of having “election fatigue” among voters as the national elections ended just a few months before the barangay polls.

The Comelec is also considering the hefty amount of P3.4 billion needed to conduct the polls which would include 42,000 barangays across the nation.

According to Labaria, there is also a pending measure, House Bill 6240 which was filed by Pasay City Cong. Emi Calixto Rubiano, that would move the barangay elections from October this year to October of 2018.

However, Labaria confirmed that the local Comelec will proceed with its preparations for the polls while there is no finality in the postponement, and that the poll body is ready to implement any changes ordered by its head office. (with reports from Allen Doydora)