Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House aut no, 1987

Introduced by HONORABLE JOSELITO R. MENDOZA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The ruckus brought about by having two elections in a single calendar
year is upon us again.

The Commission on Elections has just requested Congress to pass a faw
postponing this year’s barangay elections because the poll body is busy with
election protests and other administrative matters which arose from the just
concluded mid-term elections. Some quarters are raising the valid concern that
government coffers cannot pay for two elections in a year, Politicians are
rumbling that barangay officials will be seeking financial support which they will
be hard pressed to give. All concede that our people have not yet recovered from
the partisan politics of the recent mid term elections which have polarized
families and communities.

When barangay officials were first elected back in May 1982, under the
auspices of Batas Pambansa Big. 222, their term of office is six years. Republic
Act No. 6653 extended the term of office of barangay officials to five (5)
years. With the advent of the Local Government Code, the term was reduced to
three years. It was again extended by Republic Act No. 8524 to five (5) years. In
2002, the length of term was again reduced to three years by virtue of Republic
Act No. 9164. The reasoning was that the barangay officials should not serve a
longer term than their supervisors.

In 2005, when the barangay elections coincided with the midterm
elections, Congress, through Republic Act No. 9340, extended the term of the
then incumbent barangay officials, due to expire - at noon of November 30, 2005
under Republic Act No. 9164 - to noon of November 30, 2007.

In 2010, calls for postponement of barangay elections were raised
because of the same issues surrounding the passage of Republic Act No. 9340 —
two elections in one year. No postponement was passed then. This year, the
same issue of two elections in one year confronts us.

The propriety of a three year term has long been settled. The problems
brought about by holding two elections inside a single calendar year have not.

This bill proposes a very simple solution. Postpone this year’s elections to
the First Monday of May 2014, and hold elections every three years thereafter.


The issue of holding two elections within a single year will never hound us
again. The prayer of COMELEC to give them leeway in first Prioritizing contests
brought about by the recent midterm elections is answered. Budgetary
constraints need not be a concern. The prospect of having officers without
mandate from the electorate is minimized as their hold over capacity is limited to
six months.

The passage of this bill is thus earnestly sought.

MENDOZA



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

HOUSE BILLNO. 1987

Introduced by HONORABLE JOSELITO R. MENDOZA

AN ACT POSTPONING THE 2013 SYNCHRONIZED BARANGAY AND SK
ELECTIONS TO MAY 2014 TO PREVENT THE HOLDING OF NATIONAL/
LOCAL EECTIONS AND BARANGAY ELECTIONS IN A SINGLE CALENDAR
YEAR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Date of Election. The scheduled synchronized barangay and
sangguniang kabataan elections this coming October 2013 shall be postponed to
the first Monday of May, 2014 or May 5, 2014. Subsequent synchronized
barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held on the First Monday
of May 2017 and every three (3) years thereafter.”

Section 2. Assumption of Office. - The term of office of the barangay
and sangguniang kabataan officials elected under this Act and subsequent
elections shall commence at noon on June 1, next following their elections.

Section 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The COMELEC shall
promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

Section 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and
rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 5. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or
provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or
provisions hereof shall not be affected and thereby remain in full force and
effect.

Section 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shail take effect fifteen (15)
days after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,