Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo (Photo courtesy of Tulfo's office)
MANILA – Quezon City Representative Ralph Tulfo on Wednesday backed the proposal to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled on December 5, 2022 as it would give the government "ample time" to prepare after the 2022 national and local elections were just held in May.
Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo said holding the BSKE in May 2023 instead would be both an "affirmation and a reward" for the "faithfulness and service" of barangay and SK leaders to their constituents.
"Palagay ko po ay tamang timpla na ang May 8, 2023 bilang bagong petsa ng halalan para sa Barangay at SK – hindi masyadong malapit, hindi rin masyadong malayo (I think May 8, 2023 is the perfect fit for the new date of the Barangay and SK elections--not too soon and not too far)," Tulfo said.
Tulfo said postponing these elections for too long would not be fair to those officials who served the people well especially during these pandemic years.
He said barangay and SK leaders are the first line of public service most Filipinos experience on a daily basis, stressing that it is crucial that their mandates are renewed often to make sure "the local leaders continue to have the consent of the governed".
He said bad governance should not be allowed to persist, especially in those barangays whose leaders have failed their constituents.
"Postponing the Barangay and SK Elections to May 6, 2024 as has been suggested by some would be prolonged agony and suffering to those citizens who have not been served well and competently by their local leaders. Wag naman pong masyadong matagal, ituloy na po natin ang eleksyon sa May 2023 (Let's not delay it too much. Let's hold the elections in May 2023)," he said.
Cebu City Rep. Rachel del Mar has filed a bill proposing to move the BSKE to December 4, 2023, saying that conducting the BSKE this year would add to the "present division" of the electorate. (PNA)
