House bill won't extend, but fix b'gay, SK terms

A measure recently passed on second reading by the House of Representatives was meant to set a fixed six-year term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to make them more efficient and not to postpone the elections, a House leader clarified yesterday.

- - Jose Rodel Clapano

“We are not extending, we are not postponing the elections, we are fixing with definiteness the term of barangay and SK officials. That is the only intent of the substitute House Bill that passed on second reading last week,” Oriental Mindoro 1st district Rep. Arnan Panaligan said over Teleradyo Serbisyo yesterday, referring to House Bill 11287.

Panaligan is vice chairman of the House committee on local government.

Under HB 11287, the Punong Barangay and the Barangay Kagawad are entitled to two consecutive six-year terms while the SK chairman and SK kagawad would be allowed a fixed term of six years.

“We consolidated the 18 proposed bills in Congress into one substitute bill which was approved on second reading last week. We are expecting to have it approved on third and final reading before Congress goes on a recess on Feb. 5,” Panaligan said.