BARANGAY, SK elections to push through as scheduled

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 27, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  After much talk about being postponed, the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be held on October 25, 2010 as scheduled, the Commission on Elections informed.

The Commission on Elections said that the lawmakers agreed during a meeting on April 24 in Malacañang to go on with the elections.

There were proposals to shelve but these were not acted upon so the elections will push through as scheduled, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said.

Although there were proposals regarding the elections, the preparations were not shelved despite proposals to postpone the elections, and so the Comelec is ready.

The Comelec said it is also preparing for the holding of Electoral Registration Board (ERB) hearings on the list of voters.

The ERB will look into oppositions filed against the applications for registration of certain voters. Through the procedure, the Comelec will be able to weed out voters with double or multiple registrations.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections passed Resolution No. 9002 promulgating the guidelines in the clustering or grouping of precincts for purposes of the October 25, 2010 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

The Comelec foresees the insufficiency of teachers who will serve as member of the Board of Election tellers and the shortage of school buildings as polling centers for the October 25 barangay and SK elections.

Among the guidelines provided for by the said resolution is that only precincts within the same barangay and the same voting center shall be clustered/grouped; daughter precincts shall, as far as practicable, be clustered or grouped with its mother precincts.