Mayors divided on S Sangguniang Kabataan K, barangay polls deferment

CEBU, Philippines - Mayors of the three highly-urbanized cities in Cebu have opposing positions over the proposal to postpone the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña opposed the move of some senators to reset the twin elections in October. 

Last Wednesday, Senator Joel Villanueva filed a proposal to reset the synchronized elections scheduled on October 31 to the last Monday of October 2018.

Apart from Villanueva, Senators Sonny Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano and Leila De Lima have also called for the deferment of the two elections.

However, Osmeña said moving the two elections is the same as postponing democracy.

"They ask me the question if I'm in favor of postponing democracy, the answer is no," Osmeña said, explaining that the basic element of democracy is choosing a leader.

The mayor said some politicians may want to move the elections because they do not want to spend since it will cost a lot.

"I'm in favor not to postpone it. Why will you wait for the time for all the big politicians to have the money to fund their candidate, there's a chance for the emerging personalities who want to offer services to barangay will have a harder time," he said.

Further, Osmeña said having the twin elections on time would level the playing field for small and big politicians.

"What do we have to lose? I only have 12 barangay captains, I don't think we will lose these 12 barangays," Osmeña said when asked on the impact to the BOPK if the postponement will push through.

On the other hand, Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing said if he would have it his way, he would want the barangay and the SK elections postponed to a later date.

"I am in favor for the postponement," Quisumbing said, adding that the postponement will be an advantage since the country just concluded the May 9 local and national polls.

Also, he explained that his administration, for example, has new programs set to be implemented in the barangays, which may be interrupted if the twin elections would push through this October.

"We have good response in the barangays. We are setting up new programs and new projects that I am initiating, basin naa unya'y interruptions if there is elections," the mayor said.

Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas said that while he is in favor of the postponement of both elections, he stressed that it should only be moved for a year.

"I don't think the President will allow two years, he will only allow a one year postponement," he said.

If approved, Gullas said that barangay officials'  term would be extended to one year.

He said he is in favor of the one year postponement because residents in barangays are satisfied with their officials.

Senator Villanueva said that moving both elections will have more positive than negative effects.

The senator explained that the voter turnout in the barangay polls is historically low and the postponement of the elections will give an opportunity for the Comelec to improve voter turnout.

Under Republic Act No. 9164, the election for barangay officials shall be held on the last Monday of October and every three years thereafter.

House Bill 6420, which seeks to reset the October 2016 barangay elections to October 2018, is still pending in Congress. Republic Act 10656, on the other hand, moved the 2013 SK polls to the last Monday of October 2016. (FREEMAN)