FEB.

26, 2012 DATE

NR # 2691
REF. NO.

Lawmaker wants a 10-year fixed term for barangay officials

Barangay officials may be allowed to serve their constituents for 10 years under a bill seeking to amend the Local Government Code and fixing the date of election for the local executives. Rep. Pedro Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin) filed House Bill 5724, which provides that barangay officials will get a five-year fixed stint for two consecutive terms. The two consecutive terms equivalent to 10 years would be sufficient enough for sitting barangay officials to perform their sworn duties and functions, Romualdo said. If the bill is enacted into law by the 15th Congress, the barangay elections will be set on October 2015 and every five years thereafter. Under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, the barangay officials have a three-year term and can serve more than three consecutive terms. This bill seeks to address a separate law fixing the term of barangay officials to five years for two consecutive terms only and setting the date of election exclusively for barangay officials sans the Sangguniang Kabataan which can be addressed in a separate law, Romualdo said. The frontliners in implementing different national and local government policies and programs are our barangay officials. We need to see to it that they are given the mandate and opportunity to best serve their communities by giving them a longer period, Romualdo said. Under the bill, no barangay officials shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. The bill provides that voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term by which he was elected. The bill provides further that all incumbent barangay officials shall remain in office unless sooner removed or suspended for cause until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The barangay officials who are ex officio members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panglunsod or Sangguniang Panlalawigan may continue to serve as members until the next barangay election. Likewise, the Liga ng mga Barangay shall, within 30 days after the next barangay election, conduct election for ex officio positions in the Sanggunians under the supervision of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). (30) jsc