Elections without politics

Contrary to what many foreign nationals and even Filipinos themselves believe, partisan politics is prohibited in the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the Republic of the Philippines on 30 October 2023.

No less than Filipino lawmakers themselves have advised the people against engaging in partisan politics during the barangay and SK elections, citing the prohibition against it under the Omnibus Election Code and Section 93 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines.

Under Section 93 on Partisan Political Activity, it is stated that, “No local official or employee in the career civil service shall engage directly or indirectly in any partisan political activity or take part in any election, initiative, referendum, plebiscite, or recall, except to vote, nor shall he use his official authority or influence to cause the performance of any political activity by any person or body.”

He may, however, express his views, on current issues, or mention the names of certain candidates for public office whom he supports.

Elective local officials may take part in partisan politics and electoral activities, but it shall be unlawful for them to solicit contributions from their subordinates or subject these subordinates to any of the prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code.

To be elected on 30 October are 42,027 punong barangay or chairmen and 294,189 barangay councilors or kagawad, and the same numbers for the SK chairmen and councilors or kagawad.

The barangay election shall be non-partisan and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.

No person who files a certificate of candidacy shall represent or allow himself to be represented as a candidate of any political party or any other organization and/or group.

The barangay is the basic political unit that serves as the primary planning and implementing unit for government policies, plans, programs, projects and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled.

No person shall be eligible to be a barangay official unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, and an actual resident of the barangay for at least six months immediately preceding the election; able to read and write, and on the date of the election is at least twenty-one years of age.

A German national asked: Is the barangay captain a politician? A barangay captain or barangay chairman is the highest elected official in a barangay, the smallest level of administrative division of the Philippines.

Also within the barangay are sitios and puroks or sub-divisions of the barangay. The barangay captain does not belong to any political party, nor allow himself to belong to any of them to serve their interest. He works for and serves solely the interests of his constituents within the village.

Anotherforeign national asked: Is a bar an gay political?

A barangay is a political unit but the behavior, official actions and motivations of its leader are not partisan.

The chief officials and officers of each barangay are the punong barangay, seven sangguniang barangay members, the SK chairman, a barangay secretary and a barangay treasurer.

Are officials of the 42,027 barangays considered government employees of the Republic of the Philippines? Yes, absolutely.

The punong barangay, sangguniang barangay members, the KB chairman, the barangay secretary and the barangay treasurer are regular government employees and, as such, are entitled to fixed salaries, alliances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement and benefits.

The SK was created in 1975 to train and develop the youth into a strong workforce to serve and protect the homeland.

There are lingering voices of dislike for the KB. In fact, many barangay captains find them unnecessary, a nuisance, and a waste of huge amounts of money. Their abolition would be a boon to the thousands of villages in the entire country, they say.

“A barangay captain or barangay chairman is the highest elected official in a barangay, the smallest level of administrative division in the Philippines.

“The barangay election shall be non-partisan and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.