Eastern Visayas Sees Surge in Voter Registration
The Commission on Elections in Eastern Visayas processed over 143,000 voter applications during a focused 10-day registration period from August 1 to 10. Officials reported this strong turnout highlights the rising political engagement of the region’s youth.
Despite the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections being postponed to 2026, the Comelec-8 team pushed ahead with updating and expanding the voters’ list. This proactive move ensures readiness for the rescheduled polls and reflects a commitment to inclusive democracy.
Registration Numbers and Regional Breakdown
Lawyer Jose Nick Mendros, the regional director, shared that Leyte led the registration count with 57,873 applicants. Samar followed with 27,514, Northern Samar with 22,058, Eastern Samar with 18,310, Southern Leyte with 11,247, and Biliran with 6,316 applications.
The final day witnessed an impressive surge, with 33,786 applications processed, nearly five times the 6,594 on the opening day. Community members eagerly registered as the deadline approached, showing a growing eagerness to participate in local governance.
Youth Lead Voter Registration Drive
Out of the total registrants, 110,878 were SK applicants aged 15 to 17, underscoring the youth’s strong desire to engage in political processes. Another 22,225 were regular voters aged 18 and above. Additionally, 10,215 applications involved reactivation, status changes, or record corrections.
Local leaders noted that during the most recent elections, Eastern Visayas had a total of 3.2 million registered voters, indicating the growing size of the electorate.
Commitment to Transparent and Efficient Elections
Mendros praised the public’s active participation despite the election postponement. He assured that Comelec remains dedicated to delivering efficient and transparent electoral services throughout the region.
“This turnout, especially from the youth, is a clear sign of growing civic awareness in the region,” the official said, reflecting optimism about the future of democratic engagement in Eastern Visayas.
For more news and updates on voter registration in Eastern Visayas, visit Filipinokami.com.
