Barangay polls await Digong sign

ASSOCIATION of Barangay CouncilBaguio president Michael Lawana said until president Rodrigo Duterte signs the law postponing the barangay and SK elections, preparations will be done.

Lawana said the league of baranagys will be closely awaiting the move of the President in the coming days.

“We will just have to wait and see,” added Lawana.

Meanwhile as the move of Duterte remains to be seen the Commission on Elec-

tions (COMELEC) reminds interested candidates for the Barangay & Sangguniang Kabataan Elections the period for the filing of certificates of candidacy will run from October 5 to October 11 and the campaign period will run from October 12 to October 21.

The postponement of the elections will be in tune with the vision of city which aims to merge 128 barangays in a bid to assure maximum utilization of resources.

Lawana said the draft version has 42 villages merged and is about to be presented to the local council as well as the chief executive.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan has created a special committee to take the lead in the preparatory phase for the merging.

When the 128 villages are merged, an assurance for maximum utilization of resources is seen, among the benefits included in the merger of barangays are IRA for the implementation of development projects and improved delivery of basic services, guaranteed salary for barangay officials, the hiring of enough number of workforce that will help in the effective and efficient delivery of services to constituents.

The committee tasked to take the lead consists of Domogan as chairperson while Lawana sits as cochairperson members include Wilbert Ponce, Murphy Maspil, Arturo Rapelo Jr., Standford Ang, Ignacio L. Gallente, Clarence Domilies, Carlos Ananayo, Constancio Danao, Julita Sagun, Miguel Arnaiz with representatives from key city hall divisions.

Lawana said if the elections push through the merging of the villages will see a slight delay but assured it will altogether push through.

Duterte has signified he is leaning on postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to May 2018.