The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting has opposed the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled for December.
In a statement released Monday, the election watchdog said the postponement will undermine the role and significance of the barangay in disseminating basic services to the people.
“The barangay is the most basic local government unit, the arm of the government that is most accessible to the citizenry and whose services are most immediately felt at the community level,” the group said.
“Unlike Congressional and national leaders who may not be as accessible to the general citizenry, the barangay and its leaders are the government’s most tangible avenue for communication, redress, information, services, and assistance. Their importance cannot be emphasized,” it added.
PPCRV said setting aside the elections will deprive the citizenry of choosing barangay leaders by providing good and dependable leadership that will ensure timely delivery of services.
“Postponement of the election also deprives citizens of the right and critical need to replace those leaders who did not optimally and adequately exercise their voter-given mandate,” it added.