TWO lawmakers in Cagayan de Oro City filed House Bill 1171 on Monday seeking the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Second district Representative Rufus Rodriguez and his brother, Representative Maximo Rodriguez of Abante Mindanao party-list, both suggested moving the elections from October 2010 to the last Monday of October 2011.
Rufus said he is seeking the postponement of the barangay elections, citing the P359 billion budget deficit of the country before the year ends.
He said the P3.7 billion budget for barangay and SK elections would add more to the country's budget deficit.
"Instead of spending this amount for the barangay and SK elections, it would be best to use it for livelihood, infrastructure and health services," Rufus told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
He added that the recent national and local elections were very divisive where relationships in the communities were greatly affected.
"The postponement would prevent further destruction," he said. He failed to further elaborate, though.
He also said October 2010 is too close to the recently concluded first automated elections and the candidates, their relatives, friends, supporters and the people in the barangays have not yet recovered from the effects of election-related activities. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)