Hataman seeks suspension of 2022 bgy, SK polls
Citing costly polls during the pandemic
BASILAN Representative Mujiv Hataman has filed a measure seeking to postpone the Dec. 5 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this year to May 2024, citing how “expensive” it was to hold polls during the pandemic.
“Nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng rumaragasang pandemiya, hindi pa balik normal ang lahat. Hindi natin sigurado kung ano ang kalagayan ilang buwan mula ngayon. Kaya ang aking panukala, ipagpaliban muna ito,” Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), said.
“At nakita naman natin, nitong nakaraang halalan, napakamahal ng gastos kaugnay sa preparasyon at aktuwal na botohan sa ating pagnanais na maging ligtas ang lahat ng nais na bumoto. Mas makakabuti kung makakatipid tayo ngayong taon at magamit pa sa ibang bagay ang pondong nakalaan sa halalan,” he added.
House Bill No. 3384 seeks to amend RA 9164, as amended by so many other succeeding laws, to postpone the barangay and SK elections from Dec. 5 this year to the second Monday of May 2024.
Hataman justified that across the globe, more than 80 countries have decided to postpone their national and subnational elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the recent elections in the Philippines are considered “the most expensive” in the country’s history in an effort to have “COVID-proof” elections.
“More than P1 billion was allocated for the purchase of items labeled as ‘COVID-19 supplies’ – face masks, alcohol, plastic acetates, and antigen tests for election officers who attended training,” Hataman said in the measure’s Explanatory Note.
“With the passage of the bill, the government is expected to generate savings of approximately P8 billion – a significant amount for a cash-strapped government. This representation believes that the budget could be realigned for economic stimulus and COVID-19 response programs for the benefit of the entire nation,” he further explained.
The measure also calls for a hold-over capacity of present elected barangay and SK officials to perform their capacities until their successors are elected in May 2024.
