Imee wants barangay, SK execs’ term extended to six years

Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday said she is in favor of extending the term of office of barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan members from three years to six.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people's participation, likewise said that she prefers the postponement of the December 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to May 2023 or one year after the national elections.

From then, she proposed, barangay and SK officials would serve for six years, citing poll budget concerns.

“Kada eleksyon na lang, pinapaliban na ‘yang barangay at SK election. Napapaisip tuloy ako na talagang may problema sa termino ng ating mga barangay officials. Palagay ko, medyo maikli masyado ang three years sa totoo lang,” she said.

(Postponement after postponement of the barangay and SK polls made me realize that there must a problem with the terms of the barangay officials. I think three years is a bit too short.)

“Ang reyalidad, halos five years naman talaga ang sineserve nila dahil postpone tayo nang postpone, at ang alam natin na ang barangay, mahirap ang trabahong ‘yan [dahil] 24/7 silang nakatutok sa lahat ng programa at proyekto ng gobyerno, so importante talaga na kabisado nila,” she added.

(Due to BSKE postponements, barangay officials actually are serving nearly five years. We also know that their job is difficult. They are focused 24/7 on all government programs and projects, so it is really important that they are familiar with all the aspects of their work.)

In August, Imee Marcos filed Senate Bill 1195 to amend Republic Act No. 7160 or The Local Government Code Of 1991, arguing that there is a need to extend the term of barangay and SK officials to six years “to ensure continuity and stability” of their plans and programs.

Bongbong's promise

Further, Senator Marcos said that her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., is inclined to postpone the 2022 BSKE, and he even said that he already  “promised” to barangays he would do so. 

However, she said the postponement push needs to be reviewed due funding considerations. This came after Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos got information from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that around P18 billion would be needed if  the 2022 BSKE will be postponed.

“Tinatanong ko, ang sabi niya (President Marcos) ipo-postpone, napangako niya raw sa mga barangay. Sabi ko walang problema 'yun kasi kaibigan naman natin ang mga barangay, pwede natin talagang i-postpone, so ipo-postpone,” she said.

“Noong nalaman nina Secretary Abalos na P18 billion ang hinihingi ni Chairman Garcia, medyo nasindak sila. So, tignan natin kung ano ang final decision pati ‘yung date sa December,” she added.

(I asked President Marcos and said it would be postponed as he already promised the barangays. I said there is no problem because the barangay officials are our friends, we can really postpone it. However, when Secretary Abalos found out that Chairman Garcia was asking for P18 billion, they were a bit shocked. So, let's see what the final decision will be as well as the date.)

Comelec chairman George Garcia has repeatedly pointed out that the Comelec would need a bigger budget if the BSKE will be delayed anew, saying that the poll body’s proposed 2023 budget did not include a funding for the extra expenses resulting from the postponement.

He said the Comelec needs P10 billion if the BSKE were postponed to May 2023, or P17 billion if it will be in December 2023.

Imee Marcos sponsored on Wednesday Senate Bill 1306 that seeks to postpone the 2022 BSKE to the second Monday of December 2023. —LBG, GMA News