TACLOBAN CITY – The Commission on Elections in Eastern Visayas (Comelec-8) processed an impressive 143,318 voter applications during its 10-day registration period from August 1 to 10, 2025 — a turnout officials say underscores the growing political engagement of the region’s youth.
The registration was held in preparation for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, initially scheduled for December 1, 2025 but now deferred to 2026.
Comelec officials still moved forward with the drive to update and expand the voters’ list ahead of the rescheduled polls.
Lawyer Jose Nick Mendros, Comelec regional director, reported that Leyte posted the highest number of applicants with 57,873, followed by Samar (27,514), Northern Samar (22,058), Eastern Samar (18,310), Southern Leyte (11,247), and Biliran (6,316).
The final day of registration saw a remarkable surge, with 33,786 applications processed — nearly five times higher than the opening day’s 6,594. The numbers steadily climbed throughout the period, peaking in the last three days as residents rushed to beat the deadline.
Of the total registrants, 110,878 were SK applicants aged 15 to 17, reflecting a strong appetite among young people to participate in local governance.
Another 22,225 were regular registrants aged 18 and above, while 10,215 applications involved reactivation, change of status, correction of records, or correction of entries.
Mendros commended the public’s active participation despite the election postponement, assuring that Comelec will continue to deliver efficient and transparent electoral services.
“This turnout, especially from the youth, is a clear sign of growing civic awareness in the region,” he said.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
