IN THE ongoing regional convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Western Visayas in Iloilo City, one matter being explored is the possible postponement of the December 2022 barangay election.
In 2016, barangay polls were also postponed twice. President Duterte then explained that 40 percent of barangay captains were involved in illegal drugs. It was finally held in May 2018.
Then in December 2019, President Duterte approved the postponement of the May 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to December 2022 by signing Republic Act 11462.
How important is the barangay election?
Barangays are not just the basic units of government; they are also the basic people’s organizations that maintain peace and order and implement community projects in accordance with the needs and wishes of the members of the community.
As leaders and representatives of the community at the grassroots, barangay officials have the duty and obligation as well as the authority to safeguard the electoral exercise at the barangay level to ensure free, orderly and honest elections so that the will of the community is truly reflected in the election returns.
Barangay officials should consider themselves not just as agents of the national and local governments, but as representatives of the people of their barangays, so that it becomes their duty to see to it that the desires of their constituents as expressed through the ballot box are protected, accurately reported and fully implemented.
The further strengthening of the powers of local governments, including provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays is also being suggested so they can harness people power in the great effort to promote local and national progress and the public welfare.
So that the citizenry can fully participate in the governance of their respective localities, the strengthening of the autonomous powers of local governments, from the provincial, city, and municipal to the barangay level, is needed.
