Zubiri willing to postpone SK, barangay elections for 1 year

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is expected to be the next Senate president of the 19th Congress, said on Sunday he is willing to postpone for a year the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections slated in December this year.

Interviewed in Super Radyo dzBB, Zubiri said that more than P8 billion worth of savings would be needed if SK and barangay elections would push through.

“Ako personally kung humingi ang Pangulo ng isang taon para ipagpaliban [ang SK at barangay elections] para magkaroon tayo ng kaunting pondo para sa pangangailangan ng mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan... I'm willing to postpone maybe for a maximum for 1 year,” he said.

(Personally, if the President asks for one year to postpone [the SK and barangay elections] so that we have some funds for the needs of our poor countrymen... I'm willing to postpone, maybe for a maximum of 1 year.)

“Pangalawa, para magtugma sa 5-year terms itong SK at barangay, ang gusto ng Pangulo yata ay 5 year… wag kayong mag-alala magkakaroon talaga ng halalan ang barangay at SK definitely before the 2025 elections,” he added.

(Second, this is to match the 5-year terms of SK and barangay officials, I think the President wants 5 years... don't worry, the barangay and SK will have elections before the 2025 elections.)

Zubiri earlier said the Senate will wait for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) before deciding whether to pass a bill deferring the 2022 Barangay and SK polls or not.

(Let's await the SONA speech of the president for guidance on the issue. I believe may comment about the [barangay] elections in his speech. That will help guide [as] to what action to take on the matter. One week na lang," Zubiri said in a text message to reporters.

Commission on Elections acting spokesperson Rex Laudiangco earlier asked Congress to decide immediately on the matter as the poll body is already preparing for the barangay and SK polls which is set on December 5.

G2G partnerships

Meanwhile, the Senator said he agrees to Marcos’ plan for government-to-government partnerships to lower the soaring high prices of fertilizers.

“Ako’y sumasang-ayon sa plano ng Pangulo na mag government to government sa fertilizer, para maging mas mura,” Zubiri said.

(I agree with the President's plan to go from government-to-government on fertilizer, to make it cheaper.)

“Kaya maganda na mag-G2G tayo. Let’s say for example Philippine government kausapin ang Malaysia, Brunei… napakamura ng presyo ng fertilizers po nila doon,” he added.

(It would be good if we go G2G. Let's say for example the Philippine government talks to Malaysia, Brunei... the prices of their fertilizers are very cheap there.)

Marcos, who sits as Agriculture chief, expressed belief that the government could purchase cheaper fertilizers through government-to-government deals.

He is considering communicating with China, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Russia for the procurement of fertilizers. —LBG, GMA News