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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EN

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

67

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE CHEENO MIGUEL D. ALMARIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Like many countries around the globe, the Philippines is still reeling from the
effects of CoViD 19. With hundreds of thousands Filipinos laid off from work as a
result of businesses closing in the last two years due to the pandemic, gravely
adversely affecting the economy, the government is struggling to keep its people
afloat.

And as if the country has not yet had the worst, hardships and difficulties
escalated further as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war which paved the way to
skyrocketing fuel prices, among others. Adding more woes is the devaluation of the
Philippine peso against the dollar, currently the lowest in 17 years. The country
reported 5.4 percent inflation rate in May 2022, the highest in more than three years.
All these have hit very hard on the consuming public.

Additionally, the recently concluded May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections
cost the government billions. The scheduled December 5, 2022 Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will cost roughly 10 Billion.

All told, this bill seeks to postpone the December 5, 2022 Barangay and SK
elections to October 9, 2023. Foremost, the government can use the 10 Billion
allocation in 2022 for this election to instead spend for post-pandemic measures to
keep its people safe, and thus help the economy bounce back.

On the other hand, the May 9, 2022 National and Local elections ushered in
new sets of officials, elected and re-elected, who will definitely benefit from the
experience of the existing barangay and SK officials in fighting the pandemic.
Replacing these barangay and SK officials with a new setat this time when the country
is still trying to get back on its feet will be counterproductive.

Not squarely related but equally important, postponing the Barangay and SK
elections will allow time “to heal the wounds” brought about by the recently
concluded National and Local elections.

In this respect, this bill proposes to amend Republic Act 9164 to postpone the
December 5, 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October 9, 2023.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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CHEENO MIGUEL D. ALMARIO

Representative
2¢ District, Davao Oriental


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1367

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE CHEENO MIGUEL D. ALMARIO

AN ACT
POSTPONING THE DECEMBER 2022 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN
ELECTIONS TO OCTOBER 9, 2023, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 9164, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340,
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10632, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10656, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10923,
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10952 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11462,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION. 1. Section 1 of Republic Act 9164, as amended, is hereby further amended to
read as follows:

“SECTION 1. Date of Elections. - There shall be a
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 (3) years
thereafter: Provided, That the barangay and sangguniang
kabataan elections on the second Monday of May 2020 shall be
postponed to October 9, 2023. Subsequent synchronized
barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held on
the second Monday of October 2026 and every three (3) years
thereafter.”

SEC. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended 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 November 30 next
following their election: Provided, however, That the term of
office of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials
elected in the October 9, 2023 elections and subsequently
thereafter, shall commence at noon of November 30 next
following their elections.”

SEC. 3. Hold-Over. - Until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, all
incumbent barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials shall remain in office, unless
sooner removed or suspended for cause: Provided, That barangay and sangguniang


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kabataan officials who are ex-officio members of the sangguniang bayan, sangguniang
panlungsod, or sangguniang panlalawigan, as the case may be, shall continue to serve
until the next barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections.

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 and/or supplementary appropriations thereafter.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders,
issuances, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are
contrary to and inconsistent with this any provision of this Act, are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be held
invalid or unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions not be affected thereby shall
remain in force and effect.

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately following the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.