3 Senate panels OK reset of village, youth polls 3 years later than original schedule

MANILA, Philippines — Three Senate committees on Monday, Sept. 16, recommended the postponement of village and youth council elections originally scheduled in May 2020.

At least 14 senators signed committee report No. 4 moving the village and youth council (barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan) elections to the second Monday of May 2023 instead or three years later than the original schedule.

The report was approved by the committees on election reforms and people’s participation; local government; and finance.

Senate Bill No. 1043, which consolidated several proposals, sought to hold village and youth council elections a year after national and local elections.

At his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22, President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to postpone the May 2020 village and youth council elections to October 2022.

The most recent barangay and SK elections were held in May 2018 yet. Originally scheduled for Oct. 31, 2016, the elections were moved to Oct. 23, 2017, and then to May 14, 2018, leading to village and youth council officials extending their terms./TSB