Senators want SK elections postponed

Senator Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Senate committee on local government will recommend the postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled to coincide with the barangay polls on Oct. 28.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., committee chair, said the consensus in Tuesday’s hearing was that reforms needed to be put in place before SK elections are held.

Marcos filed Senate Bill No. 1186 which seeks the postponement of the SK elections.

“[The SK elections is] scheduled on Oct. 28 simultaneous with the barangay elections but it is clear that many reforms are needed for the SK to improve its implementation and its service to its constituency, which is the young people,” Marcos told reporters after the hearing.

“It appears from (yesterday’s) hearing that all are in favor of the postponement that’s why that will be my report to the Senate,” added Marcos.

Marcos said if the SK elections this October are postponed, the terms of the incumbent SK officials will effectively be extended.

“There is a holdover provision in the local government code regarding that matter,” Marcos said.

Representatives from the local government units, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the National Youth Commission and the SK federation attended Tuesday’s hearing of Marcos’ committee.

“The timetable isn’t provided for in any of the bills lined-up but I plan to include as a committee amendment a deadline of one year.  So if the SK elections is on Oct. 28, the deadline will be on Oct. 28 of 2014,” Marcos said.

“Now, it is possible that if the discussions in the committee finish and we agree on the new structure of reforms earlier, we might have [SK elections] earlier than Oct. 28, 2014.  But let us see because right from the start, there are already many issues that need to be discussed,” Marcos added.

Marcos said there will be no hurry “since a big part of our society is made up of young people.”