Another year would be added to the term of incumbent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law the proposal postponing the December 2022 elections to October 2023.
Under Republic Act No. 11935, the second measure that has been inked under Marcos Jr.’s administration, the Barangay and SK elections should be synchronized and be held on the last Monday of October 2023 and every three years thereafter.
With that, all incumbent officials shall remain in office until their successors assume office at noon of November 30.
The said postponement has garnered mixed reactions as this is the fourth time that the polls have been rescheduled.
READ: House panel OKs postponement of barangay, SK polls in 2022
The majority of lawmakers argued that by postponing the polls, the government would buy time for reform and save funds that could be used for pandemic recovery.
Opposition groups and some poll watchdogs, however, believe that this will only deprive people of their right to regularly elect their community leaders.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has warned that postponing such elections could cost the government up to P10 billion.
Despite the postponement, Comelec clarified that the funds allocated would not be returned to the executive department.
Furthermore, the poll body assured the public that the election paraphernalia would not be wasted and would still be usable.
Thumbnail photo from Bongbong Marcos Facebook page
