Comelec says postponing barangay, SK elections will affect 2025 poll preps

AMID talks of the December 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls being postponed, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday, July 23, 2022, said doing so will affect its preparation plans for the May 2025 midterm polls.

In a statement, acting Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said adjusting the December 5 poll exercise will alter their plans in preparing for the next national and local elections.

"Definitely, the postponement, coupled with a resetting or rescheduling of any priorly-scheduled electoral exercise, has a potential to impact preparations and activities of succeeding elections," said Laudiangco.

"This impact may be more readily apparent on the early planning and preparations, which the Commission intends to undertake for the conduct of the May 12, 2025 national and local elections," he added.

Laudiangco bared that the poll body intends to make early preparations in a bid to further improve the successful May 9, 2022 polls.

"(This is) by planning for and preparing early for the May 12, 2025 NLE, addressing all areas for improvement, ensuring a duplication of the speed and efficiency of elections, if not improving it, as well as providing a better voting experience for the Filipinos," said the poll official.

He assured the public that the Comelec will be prepared to deal with such potential impacts of postponing the barangay and youth polls.

"The Commission will comply in accordance with its constitutional mandate, as it had done previously, and will ensure that necessary adjustments and corresponding actions be taken to mitigate said impact," said Laudiangco.

Leyte Fourth District Representative Richard Gomez earlier filed a bill that seeks to postpone the elections scheduled this December 5 to a later date.

Similarly, Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed a bill looking to move the next barangay and SK elections from December 5, 2022 to the first Monday of December 2023. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)