MANILA, Philippines ? The minority bloc in the House of Representatives is against the holding of the barangay (village-level) elections in October this year and vowed to block moves of allies of President Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III in the chamber to push through with it.

Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez said they will insist on a postponement of the elections until 2011.

Said the scheduled barangay polls is too close to the recently-held May presidential elections and could strain not only the government coffers but the pockets of congressmen.

Suarez said it could not be denied that barangay officials turn to congressmen, too, for assistance during barangay elections and many congressmen are obliged to help.

Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros Magsaysay said Malacanang?s allies in the chamber should not make it appear that they are already in agreement with the stance of the President.

She said Malacanang should wait for the decision of the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms on the matter.

The committee headed by Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. will begin hearing on various proposals to postpone the barangay elections on Wednesday.

The President has said that he wants the elections to push through as scheduled on October 25 this year, but wants the elected officials? term cut short to only up to May 2013, when the next barangay elections take place simultaneous with the national polls.