UNLESS Congress decides to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this month, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will push through with preparations for it.
Comelec Cebu Provincial Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said “everything is underway” for the barangay and SK elections in Cebu province.
“The last time we met with chairman of Comelec (Andres D. Bautista), he told us that the fate of the barangay elections is now up to Congress. But we need clear instructions from them within July,” Castillano said.
Senate Bill 1469, authored by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, seeks to postpone the barangay and SK elections from October 4 of this year to October 4 next year.
President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted the barangay and SK elections postponed since 40 percent of the barangay officials in the country are engaged in the illegal drug trade.
Castillano said their office completed the prerequisites for the elections such as field registration and clustering of precincts.
Congress will resume session following the President’s State of the Nation Address on July 24.
“But we haven’t awarded any contract yet because we need clear instructions from Congress. We’re waiting for their decision, and we hope they can have one before July ends,” he said.