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Monday, June 11, 2007
Resetting of barangay polls proposed by lawmaker
MANILA -- A Cebu legislator has filed a bill seeking to reset this October's barangay and youth council elections to the second Monday of October next year and then set it for every five years.
Rep. Eduardo Gullas, in filing House Bill 6116, warned that excessive spending for two national elections less than six months apart could stoke inflation, put considerable upward pressure on interest rates, and spoil the country's financial and economic recovery.
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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected to spend anywhere from P2.8 billion to P3.3 billion for the October elections, according to Gullas.
"But this is not just about public spending, although P3.3 billion not spent is definitely a lot of money saved for the National Treasury. This is also about spending by the aspirants that can easily reach billions of pesos in aggregate," Gullas said.
"Assuming the October election-related spending amounts to a modest P200,000 per barangay - and we have more than 40,000 barangays - this can easily translate to an extra P8 billion in the system," he said. "And all this is on top of the lavish spending related to last month's mid-term national elections."
He said he is "gravely worried that unrestrained spending for two national elections one after the other might needlessly heighten the risk of inflation."
The tame inflation and strong peso have enabled regulators to keep interest rates at or near historic lows. The subdued inflation and lending rates in turn have been a key driver of sustained economic and employment growth, Gullas pointed out.
"We do not have to court higher inflation now, considering that we continue to face the uncontrolled risk of potentially higher inflation, should oil and other global commodity prices continue to advance," he said.
Gullas said once the bill is approved, all incumbent barangay and SK officials would continue to serve until their successors are elected next year, or unless removed for cause. (RP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (June 11, 2007 issue)
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