Barangay officials across the country are thanking President Rodrigo Duterte for calling on Congress to enact a measure to postpone the barangay elections, saying this would allow them to focus on serving their constituents instead of being distracted by politics.
“If barangay elections are held next year as originally scheduled, that will only give them two years to start and finish all their projects.”
This was bared by former Liga ng mga Barangay national president and now Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy V, who on Thursday said he has been receiving calls and messages from barangay officials welcoming the President’s pronouncement imploring Congress to reschedule the May 2020 barangay elections to October 2022.
“Ang dami kaagad nag-tetext sa akin nung araw na yun na talagang tuwang-tuwa po sila na pinakikinggan po ng ating mahal na Pangulo din kung ano po ang kagustuhan ng ating mga barangay officials,” said Dy.
(On that day, I already received many text messages saying they were happy to learn that the President also listens to the needs of our barangay officials.)
“I also implore Congress… you have to study this very carefully. Congress has to postpone the May 2020 elections and ‘yung Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan to October 2022… to rectify the truncated terms,” said the President in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
“Paiba-iba na eh. The truncated terms of sitting barangays but also provide them with the ample time to finish their programs and projects,” added the President.
Dy, who served as barangay chairman of San Fabian in Echague, Isabela before being elected one of the country’s youngest legislators––explained that barangay officials around the country have been clamoring for the postponement of the May 2020 barangay polls, citing the same reasons mentioned by the President in his SONA.
“For barangay officials, the first year is devoted to learning how to do the job properly; you attend training programs and seminars and the like.”
The solon, who credits his time as a barangay chair for providing him with firsthand knowledge of the workings of frontline services in government, said that he understands the concerns of the country’s barangay executives.
“Barangay officials were only elected last year, so if barangay elections are held next year as originally scheduled, that will only give them two years to start and finish all their projects,” said Dy.
“That is really insufficient. For barangay officials, the first year is devoted to learning how to do the job properly; you attend training programs and seminars and the like. By year two, you’re ready to start your projects and carry out your plans for the barangay––but by then you have to deal with the distractions of running again and campaigning for office. Mahirap po talaga ‘yan,” Dy added.
Dy said this was the reason for the resolution that was passed in the Liga ng mga Barangay national assembly last February calling for the postponement of barangay polls to May 2023––a position that is reflected in House Bill No. 47, “An Act Postponing the May 2020 Barangay and SK Elections,” which Dy filed on July 1, his first day in office.
The measure moves the synchronized barangay and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) polls scheduled on the second Monday of May 2020 to the second Monday of May 2023. If enacted into law, sitting barangay officials who were voted in 2018 would be given a full five-year term. The bill also provides that the succeeding elections shall be conducted every five years thereafter.
Dy said that when discussions begin on HB No. 47 and other similar measures, he would be open to proposals regarding when the barangay polls should be held, including the President’s pitch to hold the elections in October 2022.