Few SK bets: Comelec extends COC filing deadline

MANILA, Philippines — A dismal candidate turnout for the Sangguniang Kabataan race prompted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to extend the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the SK and barangay polls until today.

In a phone interview, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the move is intended to give aspirants, especially the youth, a chance to file COCs.  The filing period today runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“It’s extended because of low turnout of filers for SK.  But to avoid confusion, we decided to also extend the filing period even for the barangay,” she noted.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, a total of 1.13 million aspirants had filed their certificates of candidacy for the barangay and SK polls. Of that number, at least 859,000 were for barangay posts, according to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

The National Youth Commission (NYC), which earlier asked for an extension, welcomed the decision after expressing some “concerns that the COCs filed would fall short of 338,584 SK positions to be voted for” in the coming elections. 

It noted that as of Thursday only 181,000 candidates filed their certificates in various Comelec offices nationwide.

Guanzon said the lack of interest of the youth to join the SK race is not a good sign.              

“Maybe because they have work and classes.  Although this is not the foremost reason that I have in mind, maybe they don’t have the desire to lead,” she added.

The official is also looking at the possibility that the organization in the community is poor, causing the youth to lose interest in SK.

“While I don’t want to belittle the capacity of those who will win, it is better to have more candidates so we can get the best of the crop.  It is important for our youth to participate in elections,” Guanzon said.

Earlier yesterday, the National Youth Commission urged the Comelec to extend the period for filing the certificates of candidacy to allow more young people to run.

There are 41,948 available seats for SK chair and 335,584 for councilors, or a total of 671,168 available SK seats up for grabs in the upcoming May 14 polls.

As of Thursday, only 181,000 candidates filed their certificates in various Comelec offices nationwide, the NYC said.

As of 3:30 p.m. yesterday, the filed certificates for the SK race increased to 272,047.

Ronald Cardema, NYC officer-in-charge, earlier urged the youth to take part in the SK polls, warning that thousands of seats will be left vacant if few candidates run.

“We enjoin the Filipino youth to take advantage of the SK reform. We want to change our country. Let’s start in our barangay, with the SK. This is one way of changing your society, your community,” Cardema said.

It thanked the Comelec for extending the period to file the COCs as it hoped that more of the youth would file their certificates.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the campaign period will run from May 4 to 12, warning that candidates should avoid early campaigning.

While the rules on premature campaigning had been blurred by the 2009 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Comelec vs Penera, he stressed that candidates should still adhere to the schedule. The high court ruled then to decriminalize electioneering.

Poll watchdog National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) also called on candidates not to engage in campaigning until May 4.

“There is a campaign period set by the Comelec so that it will be a fair fight... If you cannot follow it, what do you think the residents in your barangay will say about your character,” Namfrel said.

The upcoming elections will be the first time the Filipino youth will elect SK officers since the time it was temporarily abolished in 2013. A reformed SK law was passed in 2016, providing for new provisions that address issues on nepotism, misuse of funds and undue influence by elder officials. 

Under the SK reform law, Filipino youth between 18 to 24 years old may run for SK chair or kagawad. Qualified voters are barangay residents between 15 to 30 years old. 

The new law also prohibits candidates from running if they have relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity who currently occupy an elective position, whether national or local. – With Janvic Mateo