Bong Go pushes for continuity and efficiency of barangay programs, files a bill extending the terms of incumbent barangay officials

Expressing his empathy for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials who wish to execute their programs fully in their respective constituencies, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go filed a bill seeking to extend the terms of office of the local officials to give them "ample time and continuity to pursue and implement the programs they have set in their respective jurisdictions."

As committed during the Senatorial campaign, Go has filed a bill calling for the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections slated this May 2020 to October of 2022 to give barangay officials ample time to finish their respective programs and projects.

"Mga barangays natin ang pinaka-frontline ng ating gobyerno sa paghahatid ng serbisyo at sa kampanya natin laban sa iligal na droga at kriminalidad. Kaya dapat lang na mabigyan natin sila ng sapat na panahon upang makapagpatupad ng kani-kanilang mga programa at proyekto sa kanilang mga nasasakupan," he said adding that the postponement of the previous brgy elections has limited the term of current officials to only two years.

In an interview after filling the bill, Go said that as the assistant of the President Rodrigo Duterte for several years, he is familiar with the kind of work that barangay officials render to their communities and they must be given enough time to implement them.

"Galing din ako sa local government. Sila [barangay officials] talaga ang nagdadala ng basic services at nagpapanatili ng peace and order sa kanilang mga barangay. Napakahalaga nila sa kanilang constituents," Go said.

The term of incumbent barangay officials was reduced to two years after the Republic Act 10952, approved on October 2, 2017, deferred the 2017 barangay and SK elections and moved it to the second Monday of May 2018.

The law further stipulated for the next polls to be held on May 2020, reducing the terms of candidates who won the May 2018 elections only two terms, instead of the three years mandated by the previous law.

"Hindi naman po kasalanan ng mga barangay officials ang postponement ng nakaraang eleksyon. Anong magagawa nila sa dalawang taon? Papaano nila maipapatupad ng buo ang mga gusto nilang programa? Ito po ang dahilan kaya gusto ko itong i-extend," Go explained.

If passed into law, the bill will move the next barangay and SK elections to the second Monday of October 2022 and every three years thereafter.

As part of his legislative agenda aimed at helping the Duterte administration achieve positive genuine change felt by all Filipinos, Go personally filed his first 10 Legislative measures last week at the Philippine Senate.

"Inuna ko po ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipinong pinaka-nangangailangan ng atensyon mula sa gobyerno. Para ito sa mga may sakit, mga ordinaryong manggagawa, mga biktima ng kalamidad, at mga kabataan na pagasa ng ating bayan. Ito ang serbisyong ipinangako ko sa inyo, serbisyo at pagmamalasakit na ramdam kahit saang dako ng bansa," he said.