CLOSE to half of Cebu City's 80 barangay captains want the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this October postponed to 2011 or even 2012, saying they want to complete their unfinished projects.
The village chiefs said in separate interviews yesterday they need more time to finish the projects they started during their three-year term, and save enough money for the campaign.
Although no formal and official stand has been made yet, half of those who attended yesterday's Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) General Assembly said they are in favor of the proposal to reset the barangay polls.
“Three years are not enough. We have a lot of projects and programs that have not been fully implemented. So many projects started in our administration need to be finished,” said Sto. Nino Barangay Captain Pancho Ramirez.
Sawang Calero Barangay Captain Benjamin Zabate lamented it was not possible for them to finish their multi-purpose building because of the bureaucracy in City Hall, which delayed the release of the funds. He wants to finish it during his administration.
For other barangay officials, a postponement would mean more time to save money for their election funds.
Spending
While barangay officials don't normally spend much for the elections, Hipodromo Barangay Captain Petronilo Fat said spending money is inevitable.
“Maayo gyud na mapostpone aron makaandam sad mi kay alanganin ta sa budget, bag-o pa gud nahuman ang local elections. (The election must be postponed so we can prepare, as we lack funds.
Besides, the local elections were just concluded),” he said.
“Dili man ta kinahanglan mupagawas ug dako na kwarta pero dili man gyud na malikayan na makagasto ta para sa kaon ug plite sa atong mga leaders, for example (We don’t need to shell out large amounts, but we can’t avoid spending for food and fare for our leaders),” he added.
But for congressman-elect Mayor Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) and outgoing Rep. Raul del Mar (north district), it would be better for Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) allied barangay captains if the election is held this October.
Osmeña said, though, that he will just go along with what the barangay captains want, and lobby for it in Congress.
During the assembly, del Mar also told the village chiefs to inform congresswoman-elect Rachel “Cutie” del Mar of their
preference, so she can discuss it in the plenary in the event the Lower House tackles proposals to postpone the polls.
Another law
To get an idea how many want the elections postponed, he asked the barangay captains in favor of a postponement to raise their hands. Half of those present did.
“It will take another law to postpone the elections and if there is no law, then the election will push through this October,” the elder del Mar said.
“Pero para nako, mas maayo mag-eleksyon ron kay sigurado na mudaog mo kay bag-o pa man nag-landslide victory ang BOPK.
Basin ug next year pa, lugitonon na ang mga tawo (But for me, it’s better to hold elections now because you’ll surely win, considering the BOPK recently won by a landslide. If elections are held next year, people might need a lot of convincing),” he told the village chiefs.
In an interview after the assembly, Osmeña said he agrees with del Mar, but if the barangay captains want to push for the postponement, he will respect their stand.
He said he will support a postponement but if it's not moved, “we also will not boycott the election.”
“From a strategic standpoint, he (del Mar) is right but if the barangay captains want to postpone it, I will go along with that.
It's to the disadvantage of the incumbent if they're going to delay it because our recent victory can help them. From a physical and financial standpoint, it's hard for all the opposition to win now,” said Osmeña.