If there is an election that is noted more for its delay and postponement rather than its implementation, it is no doubt the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
The last barangay and SK polls were held in May 2018 after being postponed twice. The same political exercise had been scheduled by Congress in December this year, but for reasons of expediency and cutting costs following two years of ramped up spending to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, these polls will again be postponed.
The House of Representatives on Sept. 20 approved on third and final reading the bill postponing the two elections that were earlier scheduled for December. House Bill 4673, which seeks to move the barangay and SK polls to the first Monday of December 2023, was approved with 264 affirmative votes, six negative votes, and three abstention.
Meanwhile in the Senate, a bill seeking the same postponement was passed on second reading last Wednesday, Sept. 21, and is slated to pass on third reading next week.
Only Senators Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel voted against Senate Bill 1306, which moves the polls from Dec. 5 this year to the second Monday of December 2023. The measure also sets the subsequent synchronized barangay and SK polls to the second Monday of May 2026, and every three years thereafter.
Hontiveros maintained that the “more reasonable” rescheduling would be in May 2023, as this would still provide enough time for the Commission on Elections to better prepare while requiring less funding to support the extension of the voter registration period.
The opposition senator was reacting to Comelec Chairman George Garcia's pronouncement that postponing the village and youth polls would mean additional cost for the government since the poll body needs to reopen registration for new voters. Garcia also pointed out that a long delay such as until March or December 2023 means more additional voters, ballots to be printed, poll workers, paraphernalia, etc.
"It will entail additional cost. If we factor the increase in honoraria expense for our teachers, it would be an additional ₱5 billion," he added.
Sen. Imee Marcos, who handles electoral reforms in the Senate proposed that the term of the barangay and SK leaders be extended from three years to six years, because of constant postponement.
Louie Tito Guia, a retired Comelec commissioner, called out the legislators saying the flurry of postponements is a disrespect to voters, and lawmakers are giving low importance to the barangay officials and the election process.
With both chambers of Congress agreeing unanimously to reset the polls, we can only defer to the wisdom of our elected representatives. There is a need to remind them though, that elections as a key component of our democracy are done regularly and in periodic intervals because the people elect their officials for a specified term of office.