The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has come up with the guidelines to fill-up the vacancies at the barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), Liga ng mga Barangay and SK Federation levels.
DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 2022-130 to erase confusion in cases such elective posts were left vacant due to various circumstances.
The winners in the May 9, 2022 national and Local Elections (NLE) were already proclaimed, took their oath of office and assumed their posts on June 30,2022 pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Republic Act (RA) No. 7160.
However, the MC stated that the DILG had received reports that at the local level several barangay and SK posts were leftr vacant at noon of June 30, 2022, similar to that of the Liga ng mga Barangay and Pederasyon ng mga SK.
The MC indicated that the highest ranking sangguniang barangay member or in case of his permanent inability, the second highest ranking sangguniang barangay member shall become the punong barangay becomes the punong barangay “if a permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the punong barangay’’ based on Chapter II, Section 44(b) of the Republic Act No. 7160 or Local Government Code of 1991.
In case of the permanent vacancy in the Sangguniang Barangay, the city or municipal mayor shall appoint a qualified person to fill up the vacancy “upon the recommendation of the Sangguniang Barangay.’’
If the LnB president post at all levels is permanently left vacant, the vice-president of the said Liga automatically fills up the vacancy and shall serve the unexpired portion of the term as mandated in the rules of succession.
But, if the Liga president and vice-president posts are permanently left vacant, “the manner of filling up the vacancy shall be governed by the Liga Constitution and By-Law (CBL).”
The same rule will apply for permanent vacancies in the other offices of the Liga ng Mga barangay at all levels.
For permanent vacancies at the office of the SK Federation president at all levels, the vice-president of the group will sit down as its head in an ex-officio capacity and shall serve the unexpired term of his predecessor.
If the vacancy occurs at the office of the vice-president in the SK Federation, the post shall be filled up through the conduct of a ‘special election’’ from among the other officers.
The SK federation president has the power to appoint any other vacancies in the group upon the concurrence of the other officers.
A special election among the officers of the SK Federation shall be conducted in case the group’s president and vice-president posts are vacant.
The vacated posts left by the newly-elected SK Federation president and vice-president will be filled up through the appointment of its head in concurrence with the group’s other officers. (Chito A. Chavez)