CamSur solon files bill postponing village polls

NAGA CITY—Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has filed two bills seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution and hold village and youth elections together with those for members of a constitutional convention (Con-con).

Villafuerte, on Tuesday, said his first bill sought to amend the Constitution through Con-con in line with the desire of President Duterte to shift to a federal form of government.

“I believe that giving more autonomy to local governments would spell more progress and development,” he said.

Villafuerte, who represents the second district of Camarines Sur, said his second bill seeks to reset village and youth council elections to February 2017 to be held simultaneously with elections for Con-con members.

He said synchronizing these elections would save the government at least P5 billion.

“It is too early to elect members of Con-con,” he said.

His proposal seeks to allot one Con-con seat per legislative district.

Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda supported the proposal to postpone village elections.

Salceda said he wants the village and youth council elections postponed “to show the investment community that we are so decisive and focused in getting the structural reforms toward federalism (ready).”

“The [impact] on the economy of structural reforms is the postponement of investments because it creates instability,” Salceda said.

“All things that could slow down the decisions on structural reforms should be set aside first, like the barangay elections,” he added. Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon