Communications Secretary Martin Andanar
MANILA -- Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte's signing of Republic Act (RA) 11462 or the Postponement of the 2020 Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) Elections Act.
In a statement, Andanar said postponing the twin polls would make it easier for the incumbent village executives to implement their projects.
"We welcome President Duterte’s signing of the Republic Act No. 11462 that postpones the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections from May 2020 to December 2022," Andanar said.
"We see this undertaking as a necessity, the fact being that project implementations take time to yield their results. This is a way to materialize and put into effect the initiatives and projects being done by all barangay officials," he added.
Duterte on Tuesday signed RA 11462, which moves the synchronized village and youth council elections to Dec. 5, 2022.
In 2022, there will be two elections -- the presidential elections in May and the twin polls that will be conducted seven months later.
During his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22, Duterte called on lawmakers to defer the village and youth council officials to give village officials more time to finish their programs and projects.
The newly-signed law allows incumbent village and youth council officials to stay in office until their successors assume office on Jan.1, 2023.
Around PHP5.77 billion has been initially allocated to the Commission on Elections to fund the village and youth council elections originally scheduled on May 11, 2020.
Andanar noted that village officials can use the PHP5.77 billion for their proposed reforms in their respective areas.
"With this postponement, the government is able to save PHP5.77 billion from election-related expenses, and the said amount can be appropriated towards relevant projects that provide better services and create better lives for Filipinos," he said.
"With this, not only will the officials at the grassroots level be able to measure the success of their projects, they can adjust and replicate them as needed for a more substantial period," he added.
The PCOO secretary also encouraged the public to report to the national government the possible irregularities that may be committed by incumbent village executives and officials of youth council.
"We will continue to monitor complaints being made by any of their respective constituents through the government’s Citizens’ Complaint Hotline 8888 to prevent lapses in government service delivery and to undermine any anomalies or corruption issues," he said. (PNA)
In a statement, Andanar said postponing the twin polls would make it easier for the incumbent village executives to implement their projects.
"We welcome President Duterte’s signing of the Republic Act No. 11462 that postpones the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections from May 2020 to December 2022," Andanar said.
"We see this undertaking as a necessity, the fact being that project implementations take time to yield their results. This is a way to materialize and put into effect the initiatives and projects being done by all barangay officials," he added.
Duterte on Tuesday signed RA 11462, which moves the synchronized village and youth council elections to Dec. 5, 2022.
In 2022, there will be two elections -- the presidential elections in May and the twin polls that will be conducted seven months later.
During his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22, Duterte called on lawmakers to defer the village and youth council officials to give village officials more time to finish their programs and projects.
The newly-signed law allows incumbent village and youth council officials to stay in office until their successors assume office on Jan.1, 2023.
Around PHP5.77 billion has been initially allocated to the Commission on Elections to fund the village and youth council elections originally scheduled on May 11, 2020.
Andanar noted that village officials can use the PHP5.77 billion for their proposed reforms in their respective areas.
"With this postponement, the government is able to save PHP5.77 billion from election-related expenses, and the said amount can be appropriated towards relevant projects that provide better services and create better lives for Filipinos," he said.
"With this, not only will the officials at the grassroots level be able to measure the success of their projects, they can adjust and replicate them as needed for a more substantial period," he added.
The PCOO secretary also encouraged the public to report to the national government the possible irregularities that may be committed by incumbent village executives and officials of youth council.
"We will continue to monitor complaints being made by any of their respective constituents through the government’s Citizens’ Complaint Hotline 8888 to prevent lapses in government service delivery and to undermine any anomalies or corruption issues," he said. (PNA)
