Caritas Philippines Appeals to Push for Barangay, SK Elections

The social action arm of the Catholic Church gives strong opposition to the proposed postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election set for December this year.

According to Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines, “pushing back the barangay and SK elections for the third time since 2016 reflects how our national political leaders undermine the importance of barangay level politics in the exercise of our democratic rights.”

The prelate of Kidapawan added that “it is not right for the government to suppress electoral processes, especially that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are seen as the most accessible and organic form of citizen’s engagement in public service and governance.”

In 2020, the barangay and SK elections were postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The same reason is being cited in the postponement bills, referring to the 8 billion pesos election budget being eyed to be utilized for the ongoing pandemic response, as previously stated by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

“Different government agencies still allocated funds for the ongoing COVID-19 response. And we know how even the Department of Health was not able to fully expend its budget last year. Thus, like in any other organization, our government needs to step up its game to ensure good planning and better execution, and not to use this as a lame excuse to postpone the December elections,” explained by Fr. Tony Labiao, Caritas Philippines executive secretary. (Caritas Philippines)