ILOILO CITY, (PNA) — A total of 81,213 candidates are running for the 32,408 elective positions at stake in 4,051 barangays in Western Visayas in Monday’s barangay elections, data from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC-6) regional office show.
Election Regional Director Dennis Ausan said that of the total number, 8,641 candidates are running for barangay captain while the remaining 72,572 are vying for the kagawad seats.
The city and province of Iloilo have the most number of barangay candidates at 36,646, including 4,054 candidates aspiring for punong barangay and 32,592, for barangay kagawad.
Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, placed second with a total of 16,445 candidates – 1,551 candidates for barangay captain and 14,894 for barangay kagawad.
Antique has a total of 11,462 candidates, 1,246 of whom aspire to become village chief while the remaining 10,216 candidates, to become barangay kagawad.
Capiz and Roxas City has a total of 8,328 candidates, with 904 running for barangay captain and 7,424 for barangay kagawad.
Aklan has 6,365 candidates, including 676 for barangay captain and 5,689 for barangay kagawad.
The island-province of Guimaras has a total of 1,967 candidates, with 210 running for barangay captain and 1,757 for barangay kagawad.