Comelec to start procurement for 2022 brgy, SK polls despite postponement calls

Despite calls for the postponement of the 2022 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said they will still push through with the procurement of election paraphernalia.

"Because the business of election is always the business of the Commission on Elections, hindi naman pupwede na kahit may posibilidad na pwedeng hindi matuloy hindi kami maghahanda. Thus we will start now with the procurement," he said on CNN Philippines.

Garcia said that the poll body is "in full swing" for their preparations for the BSKE, which include briefings and training with their top officials.

Currently, Garcia said the P8.4-billion budget for the BSKE is still "intact" but they would spend these resources wisely to avoid wastage in case the local polls will be deferred anew.

Of the P8.4 billion, Garcia said around P5 million were already spent for the voter registration and the payment of workers who worked overtime for the BSKE preparations.

"'Wag po kayong mag-alala hanggang sa kasalukuyan yung P8.4 billion na nakalaan for barangay and SK elections intact. May nabawasan man, kapirasong kapiraso lang po dahil of course we are trying that particular budget, that money wisely dahil baka nga po hindi naman matuloy," Garcia said.

He added that the materials such as papers and ballpens could still be used in the next elections should Congress and the president approve a bill that will postpone the BSKE once again.

Fire

In a separate public briefing, Garcia said the recent fire incident at the Palacio del Gobernador, where the Comelec offices are located, will not affect their preparations for the local polls.

"Sa katotohanan po, wala pong epekto yang nangyaring sunog sapagkat siyempre ang ating SK at barangay election, para sa kaalaman muli ng ating mga kababayan, ay manual po. Hindi po tayo gagamit ng mga makina dito," he said.

According to Garcia, the canvassing of the votes for barangay and SK officials will be conducted inside polling precincts where the electorate cast their votes.

Pro-postponement

Some lawmakers, including Speaker Martin Romualdez, support the postponement of the local polls. He earlier said the government could save P8.141 billion if the BSKE will be deferred.

At least two bills were filed in the Senate seeking the postponement of the 2022 BSKE.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he is in favor of postponing the BSKE polls in December, citing the same reason as Romualdez.

Should the elections be deferred, this will mark the fourth time that Congress postponed the barangay and SK elections since October 2016.

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.

Anti-postponement

The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) and National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) earlier aired their opposition against the proposed postponement.

Being a longtime election lawyer, Garcia said he personally wanted the 2022 BSKE to push through as this is a sign of a vibrant democracy in the country.

"I am always pro the conduct of the election," he said.

"As a former election practitioner, I had realized during my 23 years of practice of that profession na napakaimportante ang ating halalan dahil ang halalan na yan ay senyales na vibrant ang ating demokrasya," he added.

Despite his personal position, Garcia said the Comelec will always abide by the decision of Congress and the Executive Department as the poll body is only an implementer of election-related laws.

"Kung ano 'yung discretion, absolute discretion ng ating Kongreso, ng Ehekutibo, whether to postpone or to proceed with the election, we will definitely abide and follow. We highly respect that absolute discretion provided for by the Constitution," he said.

Asked if it is wise for Comelec to conduct the BSKE simultaneously with the national and local polls every three years, Garcia said they might face legal, procedural and administrative problems.

Unlike the national and local polls which are automated, Garcia explained that BSKE is done through manual voting. He said it will be "dangerous" to give each voter two ballots as this might cause confusion.

Further, Garcia said the budgets are different for conduct of the manual BSKE and the computerized national and local polls.

"Ang daming scenario na hindi magiging proper ang simultaneous conduct of the election pero definitely, there can be a solution, there should be a solution by which kahit hindi naman sabay pero it can be conducted on the same year. Kaya naman po ng Commission on Election," he said.  —KBK, GMA News