Senate okays reset of Barangay, SK polls

The Senate has approved the deferment of the 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) poll dates from second Monday of May 2020 to 5 December 2022.

After President Rodrigo Duterte requested the Congress to pass measure postponing the May BSKE elections, the Senate has passed their version of Senate Bill 1043, which was on its third and final reading, with a unanimous vote.

With the postponement, the next synchronized local polls will be conducted on first Monday of December 2025 and every three years after.

SB 1043 was a consolidation of five bills which was sponsored on the floor by Senate Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation Chairman Imee Marcos.

The bill includes the proposal of Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go in line with his promise to local government officials to craft bills which will give enough time to barangay officials to implement their program.

“It is not the fault of barangay officials that postponement of the last elections pushed through. They should be given ample time to implement their programs and serve their constituents well,” Go previously said.

He said that these local officials are the on the frontline of government services who will be essential in the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against drugs and criminality.

“That’s why we need to give them the opportunity and enough time to launch and organize their programs.”

During the interpellation on the bill, Go said his proposal would give the next elected president and new barangay officials the opportunity to work and accomplish programs together.

“The interval would grant the next elected president and barangay officials the opportunity to work hand in hand and accomplish their projects and programs together,” Go said.

He recalled that during the election of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, the administration waited for two years before new Barangay and SK officials were elected to support the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

“If we move the next barangay elections following or immediately after the national elections in 2022, we would then have a new set of leaders from the barangay all the way to the national level. The next administration can buckle down and set a new direction,” Go explained.