Wait for SONA on Brgy Poll – Solon

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN -  Will there be a barangay election on October?

A congressman said that stakeholders should wait for the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte at the State of the Nation Address on July 24.

President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA)

“Whatever is the stand of the chief executive and it will be made as priority to conduct or postphone, the barangay election there will (inaudible),” declared by Pangasinan Second District Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil.

When asked for a law to empower the president to postphone the election on October and if the Congress can expedite the passage of the bill to back up the extension, the solon said he was not privy about the House of the Senate, but members of the House of Representatives can fast tract it.

“I am not aware of the Senate. Sa amin we can do it”.

To those who are wary about whether there will be an election or not, Bataoil said those who serve the people should continue what they are doing.

Last month, Bataoil exhorted village officials to prepare since there are no debates on bills that will empower President Rodrigo Duterte to postphone the poll.

Barangay election in the Philippines, according to law, provides that each village includes a chief called Punong Barangay, the seven members of the Council called each as Kagawad, and the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman who are candidates submit themselves for a fifteen days campaign period.

In March this year, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers filed the first bill that would postpone the village polls originally set for October 23, 2017.

In House Bill (HB) Number 5359 filed last March 22, Barbers proposed moving this year's barangay election to May 25, 2020.