Barangay, SK election period starts

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September 29, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The election period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on October 25 officially started on September 25 and will last up to November 10.

The 30 days before the date of the election and 15 days thereafter policy is stipulated in Resolution 9019, or the Calendar of Activities and periods of certain prohibited acts in connection with the October 25, 2010 synchronized SK and Barangay polls, as approved by the Commission en banc.

The period likewise signifies the implementation of the gun ban nationwide. Under Resolution 9033, the poll body decided to re-adopt similar resolution issued for the May 2010 national and local elections to be implemented in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls next month.

"The establishment of said checkpoints complemented effectively the implementation of the ban on firearms and availment of security personnel last May 10 automated national and local elections," the Comelec said.

Gun ban violation is considered an election offense, which carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment and removal of right of suffrage.

Meanwhile, 25 government agencies have been tapped by the Comelec to serve as its deputies for the forthcoming October 25 polls.

In its Resolution No. 9036, the poll body stressed that the Omnibus Election Code allows it to secure services of government agencies to perform specific duties relative to the conduct of the elections.

Leading the list are the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Finance (DoF), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Energy (DoE).

The education department shall be the one to enforce all orders and instructions relative to the election duties and functions of public school teachers as well as the use of all public school buildings designated as polling places/ centers.

The finance department is tasked to make sure that all local government treasurers are available two weeks before and two weeks after Election Day so as to take custody and storage of election forms, ballot boxes, paraphernalia, supplies and materials.

On the other hand, the DOTC would be tasked to monitor the use, rental or hiring of transportation facilities by any candidate, political party, coalition of political parties, or groups or organizations in connection with the election campaign, including the amount paid for such use, rental or hiring.

As usual, the Energy Department is being tasked to provide uninterrupted power supply on the day before and on Election Day, until the termination conclusion of the canvassing of the election returns and proclamation of the elected officials.

The DBM will be tasked to make sure that no unlawful public funds would be released or disbursed while the DPWH, along with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), will be the ones to assist the Commission in removing and tearing down all unlawful election materials.

Also deputized by the poll body are the Philippine Postal Service Corporation, the National Telecommunications Commission, the Civil Service Commission, and the Commission on Audit.