MANILA, Philippines – Mistulang kinalampag ni Senador Francis “Chiz” Escudero ang kasamahan sa Senado na kaagad pagtibayin ang Senate Bill No. 2387 na naglalayong itakda ang 5-year fix term ng mga opisyal ng Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan.
Sa kanyang privilege speech, sinabi ni Escudero na kailangan nang maipasa ang panukala alinsunod sa Committee Report No. 77 bago magtapos ang Setyembre upang matiyak ang kinalalabasan ng paparating na halalan sa Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) sa darating na Nobyembre.
Ayon sa senador, itinakda ang paghahain ng Certificate of Candidacy sa susunod na buwan kaya kailangan nang magdesisyon ang Kongreso kung itutuloy o hindi ang halalan sa bagong termino.
“Mr. President, I ask that the body act on this bill with urgency for or against it, before the end of September, given the fact that the Barangay Elections is scheduled to be conducted this November and the filing of Certificates of Candidacy are slated already in the coming month,” ayon kay Escudero.
“Although I favor this measure, I hope this body will give priority to this measure so that we can decide on it and so that there will be predictability with respect to the upcoming elections—whether indeed it will push through or will be postponed in accordance with the new term that will be approved by Congress, should it decide in its wisdom,” dagdag niya.
Iginiit ng beteranong mambabatas na nakatakda sa Saligang Batas na may kapangyarihan ang Kongreso na magtakda ng termino ng opisyal ng barangay, isang policy judgement na pinagtibay ng Supreme Court sa Macalintal v. Senate.
“That is the policy judgment which the present measure asks us to consider—whether, as a matter of policy, a five-year term provides a better governing window than the four years presently provided by law,” aniya.
Naniniwala si Escudero na magbibigay ang limang taong termino ng mas mahusay na governing windows kumpara sa kasalukuyang 4 na taon kaya magkakaroon ng lahat ng opisyal ng barangay na sapat na panahon na mag-organisa, ipatupad at surriin ang kanilang programa nang walang pagkahinto dulot ng halalan.
“Barangays are planners, implementers, first responders, peacekeepers, conciliators, and frontline service providers—all at a scale where government knows the family, the street, and often the problem by name,” aniya. Ernie Reyes
