ABANG Lingkod party-list Representative Stephen Paduano said that he sees a smooth passage of the bills postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay elections both at the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“I think the postponement would no longer pass the bicameral committee because I see the same version of the two houses of Congress,” Paduano said.
The members of the House of Representatives have already made a consensus for the postponement of the barangay polls to May 2018, but they have not yet started the formal deliberation of the bill, the same as with the Senate.
Still, Paduano said he is certain that the postponement would be passed this month.
House lawmakers reached a consensus in a caucus last week to synchronize the barangay elections with the plebiscite for Charter change and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Paduano added that if measures are not yet ready by May, the barangay elections may be pushed back again because there is no law banning its postponement.
The congressmen also agreed to retain the incumbent village officials in a holdover capacity.