Comelec headquarters
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday said it is studying the implications on the notices of awards given to suppliers and service contractors should the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections be postponed.
Comelec chair George Garcia said this amid ongoing proposals in Congress, with the bill seeking to move it to Dec. 4, 2023 already approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives, and in second reading in the Senate.
“Pinag-aaralan po namin kung ano ang implikasyon sa mga nabigyan namin ng Notices of Award….. una, ‘yan ba ay rerequire ba namin na mag-deliver, ‘yung mga kagamitan? Kasi po baka maya-maya….. kung halimbawa hindi naman ipapatuloy ‘yung pagde-deliver, ‘yung meron nang Notice of Award, eh baka naman mademanda ang Commission on Elections,” said Garcia in an interview over DZBB.
(We are studying what are the implications for those we have been given Notices of Award…..first, is that what we are required to deliver, the equipment? Because maybe later…. if for example the delivery will not continue, that there is already a Notice of Award, the Commission on Elections might be sued.)
“Baka po kasi maya-maya kasi bigla na lang ibalewala ‘yung mga pagbili namin eh sasabihin iligal ‘yung pagbili namin, medyo ‘yun po ay kinakailangang pag-aralang mabuti,” he added.
(It might be possible that our purchases will suddenly get ignored and declared illegal, so that’s what will require a thorough study.)
Reason for adjusting the barangay, SK elections calendar of activities
Garcia then clarified that the reason for the adjustment in schedules released on Thursday was to give Comelec time to amend its memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the National Printing Office (NPO).
“The reason po why nag-move lang kami ng isang linggo ay dahil po noong kausap namin ang National Printing Office, in-offer po nila na kesa dadalhin pa namin sa ibang lugar, sa ibang warehouse po ‘yung mismong mga balota kapag naimprenta, sila na lang po ang magwe-warehouse,” explained Garcia.
(The reason why we only moved for a week is because of when we talked to the National Printing Office, they offered that instead of us taking it to another place, they will be the ones to take it to the warehouse.)
“So, kinakailangan pong i-ammend ‘yung MOA sa kanila at isama yung warehousing services na inooffer ng NPO,” he said.
(So we had to amend our MOA with them to include the warehousing services.)
The last barangay and SK elections were held in May 2018 after President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law to move the May 2020 BSKE to December 2022.
Garcia, however, assured the public that Comelec remains ready for the barangay and SK elections this year, regardless of the circumstances.
RELATED STORIES:
Postponing barangay, SK polls: When ideas don’t make sense
Postponing barangay, SK elections won’t save funds, says Comelec chair
Reasons for delaying barangay, SK elections ‘not credible’ — Lagman