Oct. 28 barangay election a holiday

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III has declared October 28 as a special nonworking holiday to allow Filipinos to vote in the barangay elections.

“It is important to give the people the fullest opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right to vote,” the President said in Proclamation No. 565.

The September 25 proclamation referred to the synchronized holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 28.

Congress, however, has approved a bill postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan elections. It has yet to forward this to the President for his signing.

The Senate and the House of Representatives ratified on Monday last week the bicameral conference committee report on the measure postponing the SK elections.

Election officials predicted more intense elections in the 42,028 villages across the country. They have asked police and military officials to provide an overview of the security situation in all the villages.