BY IME SORNITO & RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – A lawmaker recently pushed for House Bill 7123 lengthening the term of office of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years from the current three years while maintaining the three consecutive term limit, thus, a winning barangay or SK official can have a maximum of 15 consecutive years in office if he wins elections three times in a row.
It earned mixed reactions.
Vice Gov. Christine Garin backed the proposal, saying the plans and programs in the barangay can be implemented better if there is enough time for officials to serve.
In the current setup of three years (for a term), she said an official during the first year is just starting to study the responsibilities and functions of the position, and it is only in the second year that programs and plans are implemented.
In the third year, some elected officials are no longer able to focus on work because they are starting to prepare for the next elections, Garin added.
“You are losing one year of your three years just for the election. Indi ta man manigar iban nga maninguha gid para magdaog sa election. Ang tendency sang iban nagalain na ang focus nila, so nami man tani kon ma-extend,” Garin told Panay News.
With a longer term, an official has ample time to correct or adjust ongoing programs, she added.
But Garin admitted it would be detrimental if the elected official is non-performing.
Because of this, she hopes that Ilonggos will continue to responsibly elect good leaders.
“Kay kon pigado ang politiko nga ma-elect, problema naman na sang LGUs (local government units), problema naman sang barangay,” said Garin.
Barangay Captain Joel Alvarado of Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City said it is better to extend the term of service.
“Sa mga barangay officials nga may maayo nga tinutuyo, advantage gid ini para mapatuman niya ang iya nga plano kag makahatag gid sang maayo nga proyekto sa barangay,” said Alvarado.
Barangay Captain Ramon S. Amoroso Sr. of Q. Abeto-Mirasol, Mandurriao, echoed the same.
“Pabor ‘ko kay gaserbisyo ‘ko ‘ya sa tawo. Pero indi ‘ko pabor sa mga nagapungko lang pero wala gaserbisyo. Dapat mangin wise ang mga pumuluyo kay kung indi man lang manami ang ibutang sa pwesto, madugay ang hulaton para maislan ang opisyales,” said Amoroso.
Barangay Captain Ludovico Alfaro of Ungka I, Pavia town shared the same position.
“I-examine gid nila (voters) ang background and performance, kung corrupt or indi, kag kung willing sila magserbisyo sa mga tawo,” said Alfaro.
He advised those interested to enter politics to start reviewing their target posts’ functions and responsibilities so that once they are elected, they can immediately implement projects and programs and not waste time.
Ungka II, Pavia barangay captain Julieta Mantilla also said a longer term allows officials to implement substantial projects that help in the long run.
“Mas maging bentaha tungod nga kon may gina-propose ka nga project at least matapos mo within your time,” she said.
The same was shared by Barangay Captain Noel Gruy of Pal-agon, Pavia.
Gruy took for example his plans for the barangay that he could no longer carry out due to lack of time.
The barangay and SK elections will be on Oct. 30 this year.
Commission on Elections spokesman Rex Laudiangco said more than 90 million official ballots have already been printed.
The number includes a total of 66,973,949 barangay ballots and 23,639,477 SK ballots./PN
