SENATOR Richard Gordon said Thursday the government would be able to save P6.5 billion with the deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set for Oct. 23.
“We should postpone the barangay elections because it would cost us P6.5 billion. We could save funds. We are spending an awful lot in the Marawi fightings,” said Gordon.
Instead of spending money for the conduct of the elections, Gordon said the Philippine government should just focus on the Marawi situation.
Gordon said if it were up to him, the next barangay elections could be held either in 2018 or in 2022 instead of this year.
Gordon also said his proposal to postpone the elections was warmly welcomed by the Liga ng mga Barangay in Quezon City.
During the Liga’s convention in Tagaytay, Gordon disclosed he favored postponing the local polls to save on government expenditures.
The senator said for him barangay chairmen who were notorious for involvements in shady activities should not be extended.
“Good barangay captains should be extended. But we should remove those who are bad, based on charges properly filed. We must remove from office barangay chairmen who are involved in drugs, those involved in crimes. Hold-over in the meanwhile. But we have to study it further,” he said.
The senator sought the village chiefs’ commitment to ensure their respective barangays would be free of drugs and would not be invaded by insurgents and possible terrorists.
“You have to commit to watch over your respective puroks tightly to ensure that they are insulated from drugs, from insurgents and from possible terrorists. Barangay captains should help in the fight against drug,” he said.
There are pending bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to move this year’s elections to October 2018 and to May 2020, respectively.
The said elections were originally set for Oct. 31, 2016 but moved to Oct. 23 this year.