October 30 declared holiday for BSKE

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has declared Oct. 30 a non-working day to allow Filipinos to participate in the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

“It is imperative that the people be given the full opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right of suffrage,” Marcos said yesterday after releasing Proclamation 359.

A “no work, no pay” policy prevails during special non-working holidays, but those who opt to report for work are entitled to extra pay.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said they requested for the declaration so that more people could cast their votes.

Garcia added that they are targeting at least a 75 percent voter turnout.

In the 2018 polls, voter turnout was at 70 percent.

The village and youth council polls have been postponed four times since 2016.

Meanwhile, Comelec is also planning to suspend the proclamation of winning BSKE candidates if they have pending disqualification cases.

“The Commission en banc agreed that if the case has merit and evidence is presented, we are willing to suspend any and all proclamation in order to prevent the proclamation of candidates with any pending disqualification cases,” Garcia said.

Marcos also declared Oct. 10-16 as “Linggo ng Lupong Tagapamayapa” to increase public awareness of barangay officials’ role in maintaining peace and order in communities.

Lupong Tagapamayapa is an administrative body that supervises amicable settlement of barangay disputes. – Mayen Jaymalin, Romina Cabrera