W RECEIVED ”
UL 27 202

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No2978

Introduced by Honorable Florida P. Robes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to postpone the scheduled barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan
clections from December 5, 2022 to the second Monday of May 2023.

‘The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections were last held in May
2018. Since Republic Act No. 10952 provided that the next elections would be held in
May 2020, the shortened two-year term of the victors in the Barangay and SK elections
was cured with the passage of Republic Act No. 11462 which scheduled the next
elections on December 5, 2022.

‘The Philippine electorate has recently exercised their right to suffrage during the
conduct of the recent National and Local Elections last May 9, 2022 in the midst of the
Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, we have a newly-instituted government headed by
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., members of both Houses of Congress
and officials of Local Government Units.

‘The Barangay being the smallest political unit in the Philippines and considered
the frontliner in government's efforts to effectively implement national programs and
projects, the postponement of the Barangay and SK elections will ensure continuity in
government operations at the barangay level for the time being as the new
administration finds its footing,


As the scheduled barangay elections is drawing near, immediate passage of this

proposal is earnestly sought.
noknr ROBES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2978

Introduced by Honorable Florida P. Robes

AN ACT POSTPONING THE DECEMBER 2022 SYNCHRONIZED
BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS,
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.

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
Act No. 9340, Republic Act No. 10656, Republic Act No. 10923, Republic Act No.
10952, and Republic Act No. 11462, 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 (3) years thereafter: Provided, ‘That the barangay and sangguniang
kabataan elections on December 5, 2022 shall be postponed to May 8,
2023. Subsequent synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan
elections shall be held on the second Monday of May 2026 and every
three (3) years thereafter."


Section 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended by Republic Act No.
9340, Republic Act No. 10923, Republic Act No. 10952, and Republic Act No. 11462
is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SECTION 4. Assumption of Office. - ‘The term of office of the
barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials elected under this Act shall
commence at noon on of June 30 next following their election: Provided,
however, ‘That the term of office of the barangay and sangguniang
kabataan officials elected in the May 8, 2023 elections and subsequently
thereafter, shall commence at noon of June 30 next following their
election."

Section 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 kabataan officials who are ex officio members of the sangguniang bayan,
sangguniang panlungsod, ot sangguniang panlalawigan, as the case may be, shall
continue to serve as such members in the sanggunian concerned until the next barangay
and sangguniang kabataan elections.

Section 4. Appropriations. — Pursuant to Article VI, Section 25(5) of the 1987
Constitution, the COMELEG, acting through its Chairperson and Commissioners, is
authorized to augment any item in the General Appropriations Act of 2022 for their
office from the savings incurred from the implementation of this Act.

Section 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 any provisions of this Act, are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Section 34, Effectivity — This Act shall take effect immediately after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,