The committee which
conducted the study is expected to submit their findings and
recommendations on Wednesday, Senator Roxas revealed. It seems that
the recommendation is in favor of the postponement of the barangay
elections, Senator Roxas added. The good Senator, however, said that
the committee’s recommendation will be officially bared once the
committee report is submitted on Wednesday.
Senator Roxas was
reacting to the appeal of the local chief executives to postpone the
elections since another election would again mean divisiveness among
the people.
It would be recalled
that House Bill 2417, which seeks to postpone the Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections from
October 29, 2007
to May 11, 2009, was approved by the House of Representatives about
two weeks ago.
The Senators are urged
by the local chief executives to take similar step and approve a
counterpart bill.
The mayors present
said that the intervening period could be used to initiate the
much-needed reforms in the Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan
systems.
Senator Roxas said
that the suggestion of the mayors to instead appoint the barangay
chairman who will represent his barangay, rather than sacrificing the
interest of the barangay if and when the chairman does not have the
same color with that of the local chief executive, is a good idea and
worth looking into.
The mayors present
appreciated the candidness of Senator Roxas saying that the country
needs a leader who knows how to listen to the voice of the people.
Looking at and
listening to the reactions of the Mayors during the interaction, it
appears that the good Senator has captured their hearts, another chief
executive said.
