Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Tuesday reminded candidates of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to file their Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) early and not wait for the deadline.

Abalos specifically advised elected candidates to submit their SOCE to the Commission on Elections to ensure their proclamation.

"I-submit n'yo ang Statement of Contributions and Expenditure sa Comelec. Importante 'yan. At huwag n'yo nang hintayin ang 30-day deadline," Abalos said.

Based on Republic Act No. 7166 or the Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act, no elected officials may sit without filing their respective SOCE.

The SOCE is a thorough report about the campaign contributions and expenditures of the political candidates.

For transparency, candidates should file their SOCE to the Office of the Election Officer concerned on or before 29 November 2023, or not later than one month after the day of the election.

The DILG chief, likewise, reminded winning candidates to ensure that the inventory report of the barangays' assets and properties are legitimate and are turned over to them properly.

"It should be accepted. At i-check n'yo rin nang maigi kung ilang computer ang iniwan, ilang sasakyan. Napakaimportante nito kasi mamaya may nawawala sa inyo pa maibintang," Abalos stressed.