AND THE GAME BEGINS. Campaign posters of candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) mushroom at the corner of Farmers and Angel Santos Streets in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City on Thursday (Oct. 19, 2023), the first day of the campaign period. The Commission on Elections reminded BSKE candidates to place their posters only at designated common poster areas. (PNA photos by Ben Briones)
MANILA – A party-list lawmaker on Friday urged candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to anchor their campaign platforms on how they would implement laws and national programs at their local level and how it could directly benefit their constituents' lives.
In a statement, BHW Rep. Angelica Natasha Co said this would provide their campaigns with direction, purpose, and relevance to their voters' lives, instead of the traditional, personality-based campaigning.
"Ipinapayo ko sa mga kandidato at mga mahahalal sa darating na Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections na isama sa kanilang mga plataporma ang pagpapatupad ng mga batas, lalo na ng mga bagong batas na ipinasa ng 19th Congress (I advise candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to include in their platforms the implementation of laws, particularly the new ones that were enacted in the 19th Congress)," Co said.
"Sa ganitong paraan, malalaman ng mga mamamayan na ang mga batas ay para sa kanilang kapakanan at dapat pakinabangan (In this way, the citizens would be aware that the laws are made for their welfare and benefit)," she added.
She said among the recent laws needing 'cascading to and exemplary implementation at the barangay level are Republic Act (RA) 11960 or the One Town One Product (OTOP) Law because this will help create jobs and new businesses at the community level, and RA 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which condones debts of over 610,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
She said the implementation of RA 11961 or the amendments to the National Cultural Heritage Act would also be crucial for cultural mapping at the local level and the preservation of cultural sites that are significant to local residents' livelihood, tourism, and culture.
As for laws enacted by the 18th Congress, she pointed out RA 11930, which is against the online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC), noting that it is a real and present danger to children and teenagers.
Also from the 18th Congress is RA 11910, or the Summer Youth Camp Act, with key roles given to the Sangguniang Kabataan, she added.
Some 67 million voters are expected to elect a new set of village and youth officials during the Oct. 30 polls.
Regular voters will be electing one barangay chairman and seven councilors while youth voters will be choosing an SK chairman and seven councilors.
The 10-day campaign period for the BSKE started on Thursday and will run until Oct. 28. (PNA)
