• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The move to postpone the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) slated on Nov. 2 this year, due to economic crisis brought about by fuel price hikes, continuous to gain ground in the House of Representatives.
This was revealed by Deputy Speaker Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in a press briefing in Bacolod City on Thursday, April 16.
Benitez said that about 95 percent of the House members are in favor to postpone the 2026 BSKE.
It got also the support of Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Benitez, who is the representative of Bacolod City Lone District, is pushing for the postponement of the 2026 BSKE for six months because of the current fuel crisis.
Instead of spending the allocated P14 billion to P15 billion budget, the lawmaker said it would do well to spend it to a more urgent necessity such as helping the sectors affected by the skyrocketing prices of fuels.
Benitez, who is also the convenor of the Visayan bloc, said that a multi-party push for the BSKE election is expected to be raised when Congress resumes its session.
He acknowledged the Supreme Court decision that cited postponing the elections as unconstitutional, but just the same, a postponement can still be done, arguing that “there is valid and just cause because of the current crisis”.
“The fact that the nation is facing an emergency crisis is a justifiable reason to postpone the polls,” Benitez added. | GB
