Barangay officials reminded to focus on job, not on polls

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s new officer-in-charge of the Barangay Affairs Office Vicente “Inteng” Esmena has echoed Mayor Michael Rama’s call for barangay officials to continue focusing on their jobs, since the campaign period for the Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) has not started yet.

“Subay sa direktiba sa atong mayor, Mayor Mike Rama, niingon gyud siya nga kung mahimo, karong panahona, dili lang sa ta usa maghisgot anang pulitika,” Esmena said through the city’s PIO.

This, after learning that there are already barangays officials who are planning to run anew in this year’s BSKE set on October 30 are said to be doing their rounds in their respective barangays already.

Others, on the other hand, are already getting busy finalizing their line-up.

Rama had been calling on all barangays, regardless of political color, to do their part to make his vision of a Singapore-like Cebu City happen.

As he had been emphasizing, “together we can make greater things happen.”

The filing of the certificate of candidacy is set on July 3 to 7 yet, while the campaign period officially has been set for October 19 to 28.

The Commission on Elections has prohibited campaigning from July 8 to October 18.

In a related development, Esmena also called on City Hall employees who are planning to run for the BSKE to resign, so as not to disrupt the services of the local government. —GAN (FREEMAN)