NI NOEL ABUEL
Nanindigan ang ilang kongresista na dapat na ipagpaliban ang barangay at sangguniang kabataan (SK) elections sa darating na Disyembre.
Ayon kina Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez at Isabela Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy V, maliban sa nahaharap pa rin ang bansa sa COVID-19 pandemic, sayang din ang malaking pondo na gagamitin sa eleksyon na magagamit para sa pagkain ng mga mahihirap na pamilya.
“I am pleased with the outcome. The budget for SK and Bgy. elections can be used to address more pressing issues like food security,” sabi ni Gomez.
Sinabi naman ni Dy, na dating pangulo ng Liga ng Barangay, at may akda ng House Bill No. 1138, na naglalayong iurong ang barangay at SK elections mula Disyembre 5, 2022 ay gagawin sa Oktubre 23, 2023.
Paliwanag nito, sa House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, ang dahilan ng panukalang ipagpaliban ang eleksyon hanggang hindi idinedeklara ng World Health Organization(WHO) na endemic na ang COVID-19.
“Our barangay officials, the sangguniang kabataan included, have been doing the heavy-lifting in the fight against COVID-19. Our barangay officials have been active in information campaign drives against the virus, in implementing health protocols, in ensuring all forms of government assistance are orderly distributed, and taking an active role to make sure that the country’s vaccination program is efficiently implemented,” paliwanag pa ni Dy.
Dinagdag pa nito na dapat na gawing 5-taon ang bgy. at SK elections upang masiguro na ang medium term plans sa grassroot level ay naiimplementa ng maayos.
“By postponing the 5 December 2022 barangay and SK elections to the fourth Monday of October 2023, we not only ensure that we have battle-tested frontliners until the pandemic is finally over, but we also have the opportunity to use the funds initially allotted for barangay and SK elections to much-needed social protection programs for the people,” sabi pa ng kongresista.
OnlineBalita news 