Brgy Election or not

On with the barangay elections

I don’t agree with the call of our senators for the postponement of the barangay and SK elections primarily on the issue of savings or diverting the P3.5 billion fund allocation to more “worthwhile” projects. On this issue, there is no other way but to instead support P-Noy on his stand of letting the polls push thru as mandated by law. That is, if we are to start reforming our political structure down to the grassroots level.

Possibly save for very few instances, our experience in the last nine years that GMA was in power would lead to the conclusion that the widespread corruption that permeated her administration has seeped down to the village level. There is thus a need for an urgent revamp of our village officials.

Sandamakmak na ang mga tamad, tanga, iresponsable at mga tiwaling opisyales ng barangay at panahon na para naman masipa at mapalitan ang mga ito, ’di ba, kasamang Pabs Hernandez ng Bulgar?

Paano natin maisusulong ang tuwid na landas na gusto ni P-Noy kung karamihan sa mga magsusulong nito sa ibaba, ang mga barangay officials, ay mga abusado at protektor ng mga iligal mula jueteng, tupada, bookies ng karera hanggang droga?

By calling for a postponement of the barangay polls, our lawmakers are not contributing to the effort towards good governance; they are only proving themselves to be far removed from today’s reality.

Sa pagpipilit ng ating mga mambabatas na kanselahin ang barangay election ngayong Oktubre, ang nakikita natin ay grupo ng mga pulitiko na sariling interes lang talaga ang inaatupag at hindi “nakakapa” ang sitwasyon ng ordinaryong mamamayan.

Dahil ba nasa posisyon na kayo at “masarap na ang buhay” ay wala na kayong pakialam sa hirap na dinaranas ng karaniwang tao sa kamay ng kanilang mga abusadong barangay leaders?

Ditto, the call of P-Noy for the scrapping of the SK polls is timely and relevant. Kung mayroon man na dapat ipasang batas ang Kongreso, ito ay ang paglusaw sa SK election.

P-Noy, who has a gentle personality, may not have voiced it in order to avoid offending some quarters but the fact of the matter is that the SK has become a school ground for political corruption. Mga bata pa tinuturuan na agad ng katiwalian!

Indeed, if the aim of the SK is to instil discipline and hone the leadership qualities of our youth, then the right thing to do is to restore compulsory military training. Ibalik ang ROTC, tapos! journal.com.ph

Senate to push barangay elections issue to LEDAC

by Marlon Purificacion

THE Senate will push the barangay elections issue to undergo the review of Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to resolve the issue of postponement or not. Senator Migz Zubiri has expressed optimism that the barangay elections will be postponed. “Kailangan face to face. Sana by next week magpatawag na siya (President Aquino) ng LEDAC. Ilang araw na, month and a half, 45 days,” said Zuburi. The Senate Committee on Local Government headed by Senator Bongbong Marcos has conducted a Senate inquiry yesterday morning to hear the side of all ‘stakeholders’ whether the supposed October 25 barangay elections will be postpone or not. Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto II has agreed the idea of postponing the barangay elections until 2013 to save the tax payer’s money worth P3.4 billion which can be used for more important government program like establishing more school buildings and others. Sotto said if the government will postpone the barangay elections for a year, it just like delaying the expenses. “But still we will spend such amount. We just hold barangay elections along with national election on 2013,” said Sotto. Both Sotto and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile were in favor to postpone the barangay elections till 2013 national elections. “I am for the synchronization dahil masyadong magastos ’yang frequent elections. We’ll economize much and maybe what we can save can be earmarked for education and health,” said Enrile. “Maganda ’yung proposal ni SP (Enrile) para isang gastusin na lang. Isang election kada tatlong taon para hindi midterm, maraming election, too divisive,” Zubiri added. President Noynoy Aquino has earlier announced that he is not in favor in the proposal of Congress to postpone the barangay election. “Problema natin, balita ayaw ni Noy postponement so kailangan kumbinsihin with SP na kausapin siya. Ito ’yung advantages. Baka hindi nila nakikita. ’Pag kinausap siya, makakatipid ‘to sa ating lahat at walang politicking syempre sa halalan mga kapitan nakatayo sa entablado may kinakampanya, siguro kung sabay-sabay wala na maikampanya. ’Di na political. More apolitikal,” Zubiri stressed. Senator Marcos on the hand is also in favor for the deferment of the barangay elections. “I filed for one year. Not my intent to push for one year and put it there to give ourselves option, there’s the syncro. Sa house, 11 measures, each has own solution. I’ll leave the decision (if there’s postpone). I’m not pushing for a part. Period. I want to see from everyone who has the most practicable period of postponement, the most useful to handle the problem with SK, cost,” Marcos added. Comelec chairman Jose Melo said they will continue the preparation for the barangay elections until the Congress and Malacañang can decide whether it will be postponed or not. journal.com.ph