Three committees endorsed to the Senate the postponement of the baranggay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Under committee report number 4, the Committees on Local Government, Senate Electoral Reforms and Finance sought to defer the twin elections to the second Monday of May 2023.
Fourteen senators have already signed the committee report.
The postponement would mean that current barangay and SK officials will remain in their respective posts on hold-over capacity until the next elections.
Senators are asking to set the elections to 2023, noting that if it will be held on May 2020 as scheduled, the barangay and SK officials elected on May 2018 will not be able to complete the three-year term.
In Monday’s public hearing, Senator Imee Marcos, chairman of electoral reforms committee, urged the Comelec not to hold the barangay and SK elections simultaneous with the 2022 presidential elections.
She said that this would be the last time that the barangay and SK elections would be postponed.
“Idaraos na ang mga eleksyong ito isang taon matapos ang bawat national elections o kada tatlong taon,” she said.
While he signed the committee report, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, said he was amenable to postponing the elections but he disagreed that it should be held in 2023.
Meanwhile, Senator Bong Go pushed for Senate Bill No. 391 or the Magna Carta for Barangays.
“We all know that the barangay officials are the immediate provider of frontline services to our fellow countrymen. Sila ang pinakaunang tinatakbuhan ng ating mga kababayan,” Go said.
“And it is because of this reason that we have to further improve the barangays and address the woes of our barangay officials.”
Go said that the roles played by barangay officials in the communities prompted him to push for a magna carta for barangay officials.
“These reasons, among many others, made me decide to file Senate Bill No. 391, which provides for a Magna Carta for Barangays,” said Go.
Go discussed his proposed measure, including the provisions that seek to promote the welfare of barangay officials.
“The bill outlines the basic priorities in each barangay, such as the right of every barangay to have regular supply of clean and potable water; to have readily available means of public transport; and the entitlement of every barangay to schools, health centers, and barangay halls,” Go added.
