Zubiri wants barangay, SK polls reset to October 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is moving for the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set in October this year to October 2012.

Zubiri filed Senate Bill No. 60 seeking to reset the synchronized barangay and SK elections and extend the terms of office of barangay officials to five years in a bid to address the issue of effective governance and the implementation of long-term projects nationwide.

Zubiri said the barangay officials’ current three-year term affects the delivery of basic services, adding that the additional two years he is recommending will also lessen government expenses.

Some P13.5 billion was spent for the May 2010 nationwide automated elections, while the upcoming barangay and SK polls will cost the government at least P3.5 billion.

“These budget and governance factors demand the adoption of relevant measures in the interest of effective governance and public service,” Zubiri said.

He said barangay positions are non-partisan in nature and practice. Thus, he said, “There is no great need for their election to be held in the same year as for partisan national and local posts.”

Zubiri’s proposed measure also provides sufficient time for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure that the barangay and SK elections are automated and implemented in at least two highly urbanized cities and two provinces in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, to be chosen by the poll body in accordance with the Automated Election System Law or Republic Act 9369.

It also mandates the Comelec to undertake a voter education program prior to the automated barangay and SK polls.

Meanwhile, learning its lessons from the May 10 polls, the Comelec will limit to three the polling precincts that will be clustered for the barangay and SK elections on Oct. 25.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said they decided to put only 400 voters in a clustered precinct for the barangay polls to prevent long queues.

The total number of voters per clustered precinct in the May 10 polls was 1,000. But for the barangay and SK polls, the Comelec ruled that it should not exceed 500.

The registration period for the barangay and SK elections are Aug. 1-10 and July 22-30, respectively. Sarmiento said the Comelec is allotting P160 million for the registration.     – With Sheila Crisostomo