While winning candidates of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) may assume their posts the following day after their proclamation, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recommended having at least a one-week transition period for the new and incumbent officials.

Comelec chief George Erwin M. Garcia said that based on their interpretation of the Supreme Court (SC) resolution declaring the postponement of the BSKE last December as unconstitutional, winning candidates may already assume their posts the following day after their proclamation. 

"Ito naman payo lang, maganda po may transition kahit isang linggo. Mahirap po yun manalo ako tapos hindi ako incumbent baka kasi pag pumunta ako sa barangay ipagtabuyan ako nung nakaupo pang barangay dahil medyo galit hindi nanalo, pag-aawayan pa po (This is just an advice, it's better that there is a one-week transition period. It can be difficult if I win and I'm not an incumbent official. If ever I go to the barangay office I might get asked to leave because the incumbent officers are still a little furious and didn't win, causing conflict)," Garcia explained in a press conference.

"There should be a proper transition so that there will be transition in terms of responsibilities, sa documents, sa pondo, baka biglang may nawawalang gamit diyan sa barangay. Dapat may proper transition kahit isang linggo (for documents, funds, there may be missing items there in the barangay. There should be proper transition even just for a week)," he added. 

Reminders for voters

For BSKE, a total of 91,094,822 individuals will be voting from 42,001 Barangays in 149 cities and 1,485 municipalities.

They will cast their votes in 37,341 voting centers with 201,793 clustered precincts with 605,379 members of electoral boards (excluding Department of Education Supervisor Officials and Support Staff).

For Sangguniang Barangay, to be elected are 42,001 Punong Barangay positions and 294,007 Members.

For Sangguniang Kabataan, to be elected are 42,001 SK Chairperson positions and 294,007 member positions.

Garcia reminded voters that they don't need to show any identification cards when they vote but are advised to bring one to prove their identity in case anyone challenges or casts doubt. 

He also said a community tax certificate, or "cedula," is not a government-issued ID and, therefore, cannot be used to prove identity.

Voters are also not required to undergo any medical tests or Covid-19 tests; likewise, they are not prohibited from wearing any shirt color they want.

"Bahala ka magsuot ng black, white, red (It's up to you if you want to wear, black white, red) or whatever. It doesn't matter," Garcia said.

He added that voters are not prohibited from bringing cellphones inside the polling precinct but they are not allowed to take photos or video of their ballots or ballots of other voters. 

"That can be used as an issue for vote-buying," the poll chief stated.

Comelec will pilot test the early voting hours in Muntinlupa and Naga City which will be from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. exclusively for senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs), and pregnant women including those who will assist them. 

Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) will be allowed to vote from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ballots from precincts where they are assigned will be fetched and transported to the prison facility. There are also 900 PDLs who will be part of escorted voting and will be accompanied by prison officials or employees in each precinct.

Meanwhile, 11 malls will be participating in the mall voting scheme; these include two malls in Cebu, one in Legazpi City, and eight in Metro Manila for barangays that are situated near their establishments.

For the pilot testing of the automated BSKE, included are two barangays in Cavite which are Barangay Zone II Poblacion and Barangay Paliparan III in Dasmariñas City. The third barangay is Barangay Pasong Tamo in the sixth District of Quezon City. The three barangays that were picked were small, medium, and large-sized.

Proclamation of candidates

Garcia said that counting for both positions may end at around 8 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, October 30.

"More or less nationwide ang proklamasyon ng lahat ng nanalong SK at barangay candidates sa mismong gabi ng araw ng halalan (the proclamation of winning SK and village candidates will occur on the night of election day)," he added.
 

Citing the DILG, Garcia also reminded that the requirement of submitting first a copy of the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) before holding office is only up to the mayoral position. 

BSKE candidates must submit their SOCE 30 days after election day which is until Nov. 29, 2023. Garcia also said that candidates who fail to submit their SOCE twice will be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.