HOUSEOF REPRESENT AINES
| RECEIVER

Republic of the Philippines
se, © 3 AUG 2016
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV! thie
Quezon City
BY:
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS REGISTRATION UNIT
First Regular Session BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
L

3198

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO

Explanatory Note

This October 2016, the country is mandated to hold the elections for Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and members, in accordance with Republic Act (RA No.
9164, as amended by RA No. 9340. This mandate happens to coincide with the National and
Presidential elections that were just recently concluded in May 2016.

‘The repercussions of holding the Barangay and SK elections on the same year as the
national and presidential elections cannot be ignored. This will mean yet another release and
expenditure of taxpayers’ money, on top of the substantial amounts already released and
expended in the recently concluded national elections. These costs have no way to go but up,
considering the rising costs of living and the statutory mandate of progressive automation of
the elections.

On the socio-political level, the country is just recuperating from the wounds of severe
partisan politicking of the national elections. The divisive effects of these and any election have
unavoidably seeped into the Barangays and SK spheres, which are supposed to be apolitical to
begin with. To hold the Barangay and SK elections as scheduled this year will only exacerbate
the divisiveness that has characterized the past elections,

The Barangay and SK elections slated for this year may be postponed to a date in the
immediate future, to allow the government as well as the citizens to adequately prepare for the
multifarious demands called for in conducting these elections. While it is true that a
postponement of the elections will in effect extend the terms of the incumbent Barangay and
SK officials, but the benefits of the postponement far outweigh the concerns on the term
extensions.

More importantly, the postponement will afford the incumbent officials a much-needed
additional time to go back to their main task, which is to service the needs of their constituents.
Ona final note, the postponement will also afford the Congress a timely opportunity to restudy
the role of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in the local government structure and ultimately to



legislate measures to restructure and streamline the SK organization to make it a more efficient
body and to give it a more active participation in the Barangay level

In view of thereof, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPR!
Quezon City

NTATIVES

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

8198
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO,

AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS 1 AND 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340,
RESETTING THE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1, Date of Election. - Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9340 is hereby amended to
read as follows: "SECTION 1. Date of Election. - There shall be synchronized barangay and
sangguniang kabataan elections which shall be heid’ on July 15, 2002. Subsequent
synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held on the last Monday
of October 2007, ON THE LAST MONDAY OF OCTOBER 2017, and every three (3) years
thereafter."

SECTION 2. Assumption of Offi Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9340 is hereby amended
to read as follows: "SEC. 4. Assumption of Office. - The term of office of the barangay and
sangguniang kabataan officials elected under this Act shall commence on August 15, 2002,
next following their elections. The term of office of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan
officials elected in the October 2007 AND OCTOBER 2017 ELECTIONS shall be for three
(3) years and subsequent elections shall commence at noon of November 30 next following
their election."

SECTION 3. Automation of Elections. - As far as appropriate and practicable, the
Commission on Elections shall use an automated election system or systems in the Barangay
and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in accordance with the mandate of Republic Act No.
9369,

SECTION 4. Repealing Clau:
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the prov
or modified accordingly

executive orders, and rules and
Act, are hereby repealed

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 shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,