Local officials expressed different opinions on the proposal to postpone the synchronized Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections from 2013 to 2014.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said that instead of amending the law providing for the holding of the SK and barangay elections in October 2013, lawmakers should look into the three-year term limit of government officials.
He said three years are not enough to serve the people and to fully implement the projects especially with the bureaucratic system in the releasing of funds for projects and services.
“We’ll have to follow what’s in the law, if the law said that by 2013 is the SK and barangay elections, so be it. But the term limits need to be looked into,” Cortes said.
On the other hand, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza supports Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar’s bill seeking the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.
Radaza said three years is not enough to serve the constituents and implement projects and programs.
Radaza added the first year in the position is usually spent plotting the projects to be implemented and sometimes, it can only be started on the third year because of budgetary concerns.
For his part, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama does not approve the proposed postponement saying it is “counterproductive”.
Rama made his stand known in a discussion with City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete and his consultant Cerwin Eviota before he left for his personal travel on Saturday.
“Term limits must be adhered to and the people must be not denied of their rights when it should be time to exercise the right to suffrage,” Eviota quoted Rama as saying in a text message which he sent to Cebu Daily News.
Eviota’s message added that Mayor Rama believes that postponing the elections would only “prolong bad officials in office.”
“(Even) the good ones will need a fresh mandate as well,” Eviota’s message added. Correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc with a report from Chief of Reporters Doris Bongcac