Sen. Bong Go has called on the government to carefully study proposals to postpone the 2022 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to 2023, reminding authorities to act in the best interest of the country.
“Hinihikayat ko po ang gobyerno na pag-aralang mabuti ang mga suhestyon na ipagpaliban muna ang barangay at SK elections ngayong taon,” said Go.
“Suportado ko naman kung anuman ang magiging desisyon ng ehekutibo. Siguraduhin lang po natin na ang ating desisyon ay base sa kung ano ang makabubuti sa ating bansa,” he added.
The senator likewise asked the government to be ready and prepared for the barangay and SK elections whenever they would take place to ensure the integrity of the results.
“Kung hindi po talaga magagawan ng paraan na maituloy at kailangang i-postpone, sana po ay mapaghandaan na natin ito sa susunod na taon,” said Go.
“Pag-aralan natin ang ibang alternatibong paraan gamit ang teknolohiya kung paano maisasagawa ang eleksyon sa paraan na malinis, may kredibilidad, naaayon sa batas, at ligtas para sa ating mga mamamayan,” he added.
On Tuesday, the House Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Committee voted to postpone the 2022 barangay and SK elections to 2023.
Among the reasons cited for the postponement of the elections include allocating the funds for the polls to the COVID-19 response instead, giving teachers time to rest and recover following the recent national elections, and avoiding two “divisive” polls in a year.