AFTER postponement, there will finally be a changing of the guards at the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) levels. Let the past two years and the constant warnings of President Rodrigo R. Duterte about barangay officials who are into the illegal drug trade make us all aware that putting these scoundrels in position is still because of us.
While the barangay council seats are hotly contested by those who have political aspirations, it is not unusual for the middle and upper class, except those who are involved in politics or are active in community functions, to not even have any idea who are running, much less any idea about these candidates’ track record.
We cannot deny that this is exactly how it was before in our national elections, until former mayor now President Rodrigo R. Duterte won and showed to us how government is not the cash-strapped manpower-deprived institution that we were made to believe it is. Rather, we have seen how ineptitude has been allowed and tolerated by officials who believe that being in position means being served and not to serve.
This is the same with the barangay and SK officials who have seen the position as positions of power and not of service and the road to higher positions of power.
We have shown that people's votes do really matter and we cannot allow the old ways to remain in the barangay units.
For a change, let us take the effort to know who the candidates and how capable are they to bring development and order in our barangays.
If we do not know anyone among the candidates, then just observe how they conduct their campaigns, and how they abide by election campaign rules. That should give you an idea of how they will conduct themselves in office if they are elected.
We found this website https://bit.ly/2HiuzeK of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) very informative as it provides information and links on the calendar of activities and prohibited activities from filing to the proclamation for Barangay and SK elections. Check it out.