BACOLOD City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya is in favor of moving the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to December 2022.

Gasataya said on Tuesday, October 8, they approved on second reading the House Bill No. 4933 for the postponement of the barangay and SK elections to December 2022.

“I supported the move because our barangay and SK officials were just elected for about more than one year and it’s too short,” he said.

He added that the barangay officials still need more time so they can implement programs for their constituents.

Gasataya noted that the local and national elections will also be held in May 2022.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia also earlier said that he’s in favor of the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.

“I believe, what is ideal is they should be also serving at about the same number of years as the local officials. If I had my way, I would even like to see the barangay captains elected with the city officials because the claim that the barangays are apolitical is the biggest hypocrisy in Philippine politics,” he said.

On September 30, the Senate also approved on third and final reading the bill postponing the barangay and SK elections to December 5, 2022.

President Duterte earlier called on Congress to move the barangay and SK elections to address truncated terms of incumbent barangay officials and give them ample time to implement their programs and projects.

In October 2017, President Duterte signed Republic Act 10952 postponing the October 23, 2017 synchronized polls to the second Monday of May 2018.

The law states that the next elections shall be held on May 2020, reducing the terms of candidates who won the May 2018 elections to only two years, instead of three years as mandated by the previous law. (MAP)