House OKs on 2nd reading bill suspending barangay polls until 2022
MANILA, Philippines — A bill that would postpone barangay election until 2022 has been approved on second reading by the House of Representatives.
During Wednesday’s plenary session – the last session before the House goes on recess, lawmakers voted on House Bill No. 4933, which originally seeks to hold the barangay election in May 2023. Prior to voting, however, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez introduced several amendments to the measure, including scheduling the barangay polls on December 5, 2022.
Another amendment to the voted bill was the holding of barangay election three years after 2022 or in 2025 on the first Monday of December; and every three years thereafter, still on the first Monday of December.
Under the prevailing law, the barangay election was set in 2020. But if proposed measures to move it to 2022, it means that incumbent barangay officials who won in the May 2018 elections will be able to serve for four years.
HB 4933’s counterpart in the Senate, Senate Bill No. 1043, also places the next barangay election on December 5, 2022. It was passed on third reading last Monday, with all 21 senators present voting in the affirmative. /kga
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