PBBM declares October 30 a holiday for brgy, SK elections

President Ferdinand Marcos declared October 30 a non-working day to allow the public to participate in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

President Marcos issued Proclamation No. 359 which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on October 9 and released to the public on Wednesday.

The declaration of a special non-working day for the barangay and youth council elections is expected to boost voter turnout and ensure that all Filipinos have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier requested Malacañang to declare October 30, which falls on a Monday, as a holiday.

Comelec chair George Garcia said the request will be in the form of a resolution.

Garcia said that the poll body is 99 percent prepared for the BSKE. There are 91 million voters in the country, of which 25 million are Sangguniang Kabataan voters and 66 million are regular voters,  Garcia said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Comelec meanwhile will work together to combat vote-buying and vote-selling in anticipation of the onset of the campaign period for the BSKE.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Garcia signed an agreement to work together with other government agencies, citizens’ arms, and other stakeholders to ensure the honest and peaceful conduct of BSKE elections.

“We’re ready to support Comelec to safeguard the ballot. Let’s fight the buying and selling of votes, the worst cancer of society,” Abalos said.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the Comelec and DILG will jointly train DILG and local government personnel to identify and gather evidence on election offenses.

These agencies shall also spearhead an information campaign on vote-buying and vote-selling in all local government units. The BSKE election campaign period will be from October 19 to 28, 2023.

Vote-buying and vote-selling, as defined in the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), refer to offering money or anything of value to induce anyone to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote. With Vito Barcelo, Vince lopez