Sen. Go: Reset barangay, SK polls

Sen. Bong Go joins a boodle fight in one of his provincial trips.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reiterated his call to postpone the May 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

In a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation joint with the Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes; Local Government; and Finance committees, the senator affirmed the need for an extension of the current two-year term of barangay and SK officials as stated in Senate Bill No. 201 he filed last last July.

“Hindi po kasalanan ng mga barangay officials ang postponement ng nakaraang eleksyon,” Go said.

“Mga barangays natin ang pinaka-frontline ng ating gobyerno sa paghahatid ng serbisyo at sa kampanya natin laban sa iligal na droga at kriminalidad. Kaya dapat lang na mabigyan natin sila ng sapat na panahon upang makapagpatupad ng kani-kanilang mga programa at proyekto sa kanilang mga nasasakupan.”

The synchronized polls scheduled last October 2017 were postponed to May 2018 when Republic Act 10952 was passed, giving the current officials only two years left to serve in their respective communities.

“Dahil sa RA 10952 na naisabatas noong 2017 at dating postponement ng barangay at SK elections, magiging dalawang taon na lang ang kanilang mga termino mula sa dapat tatlong taon,” Go said.

SB 201 seeks to give current officials “ample time and continuity to pursue and implement the programs they have set in their respective jurisdictions.”

The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms is currently discussing at the committee level on when the next barangay and SK elections will be held if the postponement is approved, taking into consideration inputs raised by key stakeholders. There have been suggestions to move the polls to May of 2023.

The public hearing, chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos, was attended by representatives and officials of different government agencies, organizations and academe where the Political Party System Act and Anti-Political Dynasty Act were also tackled.