DAVAO Oriental Second District Representative Joel Mayo Almario filed a legislative measure seeking to postpone barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections from December 5, 2022 to May 6, 2024.

Almario filed House Bill 10425, postponing the barangay and SK election for more than a year, citing the Covid-19 pandemic as a reason for the postponement.

"It is along this line that this bill is filed to postpone the December 5, 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9164 as amended, to May 6, 2024," Almario said in his explanatory note.

The lawmaker said the extended terms of the current barangay and SK officials "will provide the fresh set of national and local officials, elected only [on] May 9, 2022, a mechanism of continuity in the ongoing fight against the pandemic."

"Until their successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, all incumbent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials shall remain in office, unless sooner removed or suspended for cause," Section 3 of the Bill states.

He cautioned against having a brand new set of leaders in 2022.

"The country cannot afford to have all new leaders in 2022, from the President of the Republic down to the last Sangguniang Kabataan official, as doing so will add more pressure to the efficient delivery of governmental services. Our collective lead against the pandemic may be threatened [by] sliding back," Almario said.

The December 2022 polls were originally slated for May 11, 2020. The last barangay elections were held in May 2018 by virtue of a law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte postponing the October 2017 polls.