A LAWMAKER from Davao Oriental is lobbying for the postponement of the December 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to October 9, 2023.
Representative Cheeno Miguel Almario filed House Bill 1367 on Wednesday, July 13, according to a news clip posted on the House website.
Almario emphasized the need to "buy more time" for Filipinos and the country to recover from the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
In his explanatory note, Almario stated that the two elections would cost the government roughly P10 billion, which could instead be used for initiatives to keep the people safe and help the economy bounce back.
Almario also noted that postponing the barangay and SK elections would allow time “to heal the wounds” caused by the May 2022 elections.
“On the other hand, the May 9, 2022 National and Local elections ushered in new sets of officials, elected and re-elected, who will definitely benefit from the experience of the existing barangay and SK officials in fighting the pandemic. Replacing these barangay and SK officials with a new set at this time, when the country is still trying to get back on its feet, will be counterproductive,” Almario said.
The measure stipulates that all incumbent officials would remain in office unless removed sooner or suspended.
Vice President Sara Duterte, in a previous interview, supports the proposed postponement of the BSKE elections.
"Well, I do think na mas maayo kung i-postpone nato ang atong (it is better to postpone the) barangay elections because we can save money dinha sa pagpahigayon og (from the conduct of) elections, which the new administration can use sa mga mas importante na butang sa pagkakaron na epekto tungod sa (to other important things as of now due to the current effect of the) economic downturn that we see all around the world," Duterte said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, May 23.
She said, though, that there is nothing wrong with having the national and local elections, and the barangay and SK elections in the same year.
Tagum City Vice Mayor Allan Rellon, however, said that the elections must push through this year as the community needs "fresh" leaders.
Rellon said that having an election would serve as a challenge for barangay officials to improve their services.
In November 2021, a bill was filed at the House of Representatives seeking to postpone the December 2022 barangay and SK elections to May 2024.
Under Republic Act 9340, barangay and SK elections in the Philippines are held every three years but these are often delayed. Since 2018, barangay elections have been postponed thrice. The coming December 2022 elections should have been held in May 2020.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said registration for BSKE is open until July 23, 2022. RGL