Caritas Philippines opposes December 2022 barangay polls postponement

The social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called for the pushing through of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set in December 2022, amid the calls for its postponement.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Caritas Philippines national director Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said putting off the barangay polls anew “reflects how our national political leaders undermine the importance of barangay level politics in the exercise of our democratic rights.”

“It is not right for the government to suppress electoral processes, especially that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are seen as the most accessible and organic form of citizen’s engagement in public service and governance,” the Kidapawan prelate added.

House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez earlier said that more than P8 billion worth of savings could be generated if the barangay elections this year would be postponed.

He suggested that such billions of funds could instead be allocated for the COVID-19 response and economic stimulus, and aid especially among those who suffered from the pandemic.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia also echoed this take, saying that the poll body will heed the decision of Congress on the matter.

With this, Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Tony Labiao urged the government to “step up its game” to ensure good planning and execution of the barangay polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, Garcia said the poll body will already start in June the arrangements for the barangay elections, stressing that they could not presume that Congress will not be proceeding with the elections.

The October 2016 barangay and SK polls were postponed to October 2017. From then, it was postponed to May 2018. It was again reset to May 2022.

Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, on Sunday said she would look into the pros and cons of the conduct of barangay ang SK elections this year.

“Naka-extend na 'yan ng ilang beses. Tignan natin kung ano ang pros and cons kapag ipinagpaliban ang barangay at SK elections ngayong taon,” she said.

(That was already extended many times. Let us see what are the pros and cons of postponing the barangay and SK elections this year.)

The senator however said SK polls are needed because some SK officials are already overaged, have gone abroad for work, or went to other areas to pursue further studies. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA News