Davao City Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president Jaffar Marohomsalic hopes irregularities will be addressed once the postponement of both SK and barangay elections take effect.
President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress on Monday, July 22, during his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) speech, to postpone the May 2020 barangay and SK elections to October 2022.
Marohomsalic said he has mixed reactions on the President’s order.
“Good side niya is maka-happy kay among goal as SK chair and council is ma-achieve namo tungod naa mi extension of three years. Amo plans and programs ma-implement namo (The good side is that we have more time to achieve our plans and programs as SK chair and council, because we have additional three years),” he said.
However, he admitted there are a number of problems the SK is facing that need to be immediately addressed.
During his privilege speech at the regular session of the city council, Marohomsalic said SK lacks financial independence in its operations, disbursements, and encashment of fund, income and expenditures.
He said this is due to the lack of SK treasurers, causing delays in the project implementation.
“Lisod man gud siya kay hantod karon, wala pa nahan-ay ang guidelines sa pag-disburse sa fund (It’s inconvenient on our part because the guidelines in the disbursement of funds had not been settled until now),” Marohomsalic said.
Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) president Edgar Ibuyan Sr., in a previous report, supported the postponement of both elections.
Ibuyan, however, clarified that they are not after the term extension but for them to have ample time to serve and implement their desired projects to their constituents.
Former presidential aide and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go already filed a bill for its extension.
Davao Oriental second district representative Joel “Mayo” Almario, meanwhile, filed a similar bill. But, instead of 2022, he suggested to have it in 2023, as synchronized national, local, and barangay elections will confuse the voters.