Signs law setting synchronized BSKE first Monday of October 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure postponing the December 2022 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
Republic Act No. 11935, signed by Marcos on Oct. 10, moves the barangay and SK polls to the last Monday of October 2023.
“There shall be synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which shall be held on the last Monday of October 2023 and every three years thereafter,” the law reads.
RA 11935 is a consolidation of House Bill No. 4673 and Senate Bill No. 1306.
In a statement, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the poll body will comply with the law.
“As I have said before, the Comelec shall comply with the law. I have conveyed the Comelec position with regard to postponement of the BSKE to the legislature and the President and I trust that such position was duly noted and considered,” he said.
He said the poll body will be coming out with an updated calendar of activities regarding the postponed electoral exercises “the soonest possible time.”
“We shall also revisit our existing and planned procurement contracts related to the BSKE and act accordingly with the best interest of all parties in mind,” he said.
Garcia said the postponement will also give the Comelec “an opportunity to further institute education and information programs for the benefit of our electorate and prospective BSKE candidates.”
He added that the one-year postponement will also allow them to resume voter registration “to ensure the larger participation of the citizenry.”
Garcia said it will give the hopefuls as well as the voting public “to take this time to prepare and reflect on their rights and duties which they will exercise through their ballots and eventual offices.”