Bong Go reiterates support for postponement of Barangay and SK elections; proposes to hold it on October 2022

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go has expressed his support for the proposed postponement of the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections during the regular session of the Senate this Wednesday, September 18. Go proposed that the barangay and SK elections be held in October, on the same year right after the May 2022 Presidential elections.

"Mr. President, first of all, I would like to reiterate my support for Senate Bill No. 1043, specifically as regards the postponement of the upcoming Barangay and SK elections to a date following the next presidential elections," Go manifested.

"I would want to place before the consideration of this honorable body, the second Monday of October 2022, as the date for the next Barangay and SK elections," the senator further suggested.

Go explained during his interpellation that his proposed schedule would give the next elected president and new barangay officials the opportunity to work and accomplish programs together.

"As I have said yesterday before this Honorable Chamber, the interval would grant the next elected president and barangay officials the opportunity to work hand in hand and accomplish their projects and programs together," Go said.

The Senator cited that during the time President Duterte was elected in 2016, it took two years before new barangay and SK officials were elected to support the administration's campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

"If we move the next barangay elections following or immediately after the national elections in 2022, we would then have a new set of leaders from the barangay all the way to the national level. The next administration can buckle down and set a new direction," Go explained.

The senator also pointed out that the shorter the gap of the national and the barangay elections "would mean a shorter waiting time for them to be able to work collectively and, in effect, align their agenda, direction, objectives, and programs sooner, ultimately for the benefit of the people who placed them in office."

Go also noted that he believes the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) can deliver and do the job right on time since it has been already done before.

"With respect to COMELEC, trabaho naman nila ito. I see no reason for the COMELEC to defer the elections a year after presidential elections because they have done this before and it has been proven possible to conduct both elections in the same year," Go pertaining to the 2010 elections.

For him, a five-month gap is enough for the COMELEC to prepare the needed materials for the barangay and SK election proper.

"Kinaya naman po nila noong 2010. Ang akin lang, maaaring mainip na ang bagong administrasyon at bagong presidente, bagong direksyon naman ang gusto niya," Go highlighted.

"It may be difficult for COMELEC, but I am of the opinion that they have ample time to prepare. This, most certainly, is possible," Go said.

The plenary is currently deliberating Senate Bill (SB) No. 1043, which seeks to postpone the elections from May 2020 to after the 2022 Presidential Elections.

Go said in past statements that the current barangay and SK officials are not responsible for the reduction of their term. "Hindi po kasalanan ng mga barangay officials ang postponement ng nakaraang eleksyon. Dalawang taon lang po ang natitira sa kanila."

He added, "It is only fitting and proper that they be given sufficient and adequate time to properly implement and enact the projects and programs they have championed, for the benefit of their constituents, who expect nothing less from them."

Go himself filed in July SB 201, his own version of the bill proposing that the barangay and SK elections be held on October 2022. At the joint hearing by the Senate Committees on Electoral Reforms, Local Government, and Finance, Go's bill was consolidated with SB 222, SB 671, SB 869, and SB 875 filed by other senators, resulting in SB 1043, a substitute bill.