Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2874
HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE JOCELYN F. FORTUNO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the priority Legislative Agenda mentioned by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in
his State of the Nation Address (SONA), is the resetting of the Barangay and Sangguniang
Kabataan Elections. As a concrete gesture to this urgent call of the President, this bill secks to
reset the synchronized barangay and sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled to be held on the
Second Monday of May 2020 to the last Monday’ of October 2022

‘The last Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan clection was held on May
14, 2018 after several postponements that effectively extended the term of office of barangay
officials by more than two (2) years. It is sad to note however. that when the election for barangay
officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan was finally held on the said date, pursuant to
Republic Act No. 10952, the term of office of the newly elected barangay officials and members
of the Sangguniang Kabataan was shortened to only two (2) years. This is the first time ever in
ur election history that barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials would be serving for a very
brief period.

The resetting of the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to the
last Monday of October 2022 will not only allow the Filipino electorates to take a litle longer
pause before immersing themselves again into another political battle that will certainly disturb
the peaceful condition at the local level. Our experience in so many past elections has shown time
and again that barangay election cannot be totally insulated from the undue influence of partisan
politics. Thus, it has caused divisiveness and has its share of some deplorable practices that
trigger instances of violence among political leaders and supporters.

Moreover. the postponement of this political exercise will also generate savings of more
than Six Billion Pesos (P6 Billion) according to the cost estimate presented by the COMELEC,
which became the basis when Congress carmarked the same amount when it passed Republic Act
No. 10952.

The foregoing reasons warrant the immediate approval of this bill

JOCEL » FORTUNO,
sentative
Fifth District, Camarines Sur


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2874
HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE JOCELYN F. FORTUN

AN ACT
RESETTING THE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN
ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT No. 9164, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACTS NUMBERED 9340, 10632, 10656, 10923 and
10952, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended by Republic Acts
Numbered 9340, 10632, 10656, 10923 and 10952, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

“SECTION 1. Date of Election. — There shall be synchronized
barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections which shall be held on July
15, 2002. Subsequent synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan
elections shall be held on the last Monday of October 2007 and every
three years (3) years thereafter: Provided, That the sangguniang kabataan
elections on October 23, 2017 shall be postponed to the Second Monday
of May 2018. Subsequent synchronized barangay and sangguniang
Kabataan elections shall be held on the [Second] LAST Monday of [May]
OCTOBER [2020] 2022 and every three (3) years thereafter.”

SEC. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended by Republic Act
No. 10952, is hereby further 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 at noon of June 30 next following their elections: Provided,
however, That The term of office of the barangay and sangguniang
Kabataan officials elected in the May 2020 elections and subsequently
thereafter, shall commence at noon of [June 30] NOVEMBER 30 next
following their election.”


SEC. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No, 9164, as amended by Republic Act
No. 10952, regarding the hold over capacity of all incumbent barangay officials
and sangguniang kabataan shall remain in force and effect

SEC. 4. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be taken from the appropriations of the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) under the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The COMELEC shall
issue the rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, and
rules an regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. 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

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general
circulation

Approved,