It seems that Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero was "misinformed" when he said that the House bill on Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) officials term extension was still at the committee level, House of Representatives Spokesperson Princess Abante said Tuesday, June 10.
Chiz 'misinformed' on status of BSK term extension bill in House — spox
In fact, Abante said, House Bill (HB) No. 11287, which extends the terms of BSK officials from the current three years to six years, was approved on second reading as early as Jan. 27 and was passed on third and final reading by the House during a plenary session on Monday, June 9.
"Unfortunately, mukhang misinformed si Senate President... Hindi totoo yung sinabi ni Senate President na hindi pa nakakapasa sa committee level yung bill na inaayos ang term ng ating mga barangay officials (It seems that the Senate President is misinformed. It's not true that the bill setting the term of our barangay officials has not passed the committee level)," Abante said in a press conference.
"In fact, kagabi ay naipasa na ito (last night it was passed) on third reading, including the sister of the Senate President. Ma-tatransmit na rin sya (It is up for transmittal) for bicameral conference as well," she added.
Escudero on Monday said that "As far as I know, the House of Representatives has not yet passed a bill postponing or continuing the elections or setting the term, and that it remains on the committee level."
And because the measure had not been certified as urgent, it would not supposedly hurdle the lower chamber and reach the bicameral committee on time, Escudero added.
Voting 153-4-1, the House of Representatives approved on third reading HB No.11287, which also sought to fix the terms of the village and youth officials.
The terms of village and youth officials will be limited to two, according to the House bill.
"Ready ang House of Representative para ayusin, pagdebatehan, at martify lahat ng mga pending na mga measures sa bicameral conference natin," Abante added.
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who opposed the Senate version of the bill due to lack of time for current officials to implement their plans, welcomed the passage of the House version.
The Senate version sets the next BSK polls to December, but the House version resets it to May 2029.
The Senate measure prescribes a term of only four years for BSK officials.