Senate OKs barangay, SK poll postponement on final reading

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate yesterday approved on third and final reading the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set for Dec. 5 to December next year.

With 17 affirmative votes, two negative votes and zero abstention, the Senate voted to reset the barangay and SK elections one year later.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Risa Hontiveros voted against the postponement, which would virtually “deprive an entire generation of potentially capable Filipino youth the chance to lead their sector through the SK system in the name of unfinished business.”

“I, therefore, vote to continue with our already scheduled barangay and SK elections this December 2022 and call on all citizens of the Republic of the Philippines to be involved in this important and sacred electoral activity, ensure that genuine public servants are elected and thus begin the national transformation of our country to one which our children and grandchildren will be proud to call their home,” Pimentel said.

He added that if the elections push through as scheduled on Dec. 5, the incumbent barangay and SK officials will be able to serve a total of four and a half years.

“Not bad, considering that under existing policies, the term of office of these officials is three years,” Pimentel said.

He added that the COVID-19 pandemic did not deprive officials of time to serve their constituents; in fact, it gave them prime time as former president Rodrigo Duterte made the barangay officials the first responders in extending assistance to the population at large.