Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is giving barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election winners three weeks to take their oath of office and submit statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) before they assume office.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said they issued a memorandum circular (MC) in response to the letter from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) explaining that winning candidates who have already completed their requirements may immediately and effectively assume office.
“We have come up with Memorandum Circular 2023-166, indicating that there shall be a transition period not to exceed three weeks to ensure proper and smooth transition of governance, accountabilities, and actual turnover of barangay and SK,” Abalos said in a press conference,
“Baka lang magkaroon ng konting problema on the ground, kung bago ka kailangan mo magappoint ng treasurer and secretary, kailangan mo ng resolution galing sa barangay na ikaw ay magtatayo ng bank account, so siguro it would take two to three weeks bago mangyari iyon,” the DILG chief explained.
(If ever problems on the ground arise, especially for new officials, they still need to appoint a treasurer and a secretary, as well as obtain a resolution from the barangay before creating a bank account. Based on our estimate, you will need two to three weeks to do that.)
Abalos said the MC will cover the elected barangay and SK officials nationwide.
He likewise warned that those who fail to assume office three weeks after winning the elections might face administrative cases.