By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Local politicians in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental offered mixed reactions after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno confirmed President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking to postpone barangay elections and, instead of voting, barangay officials will be appointed by the president himself, following proper consultations with city or town mayors.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. endorsed the idea, claiming it would not change the result if there were an election and it would cost less money.
He added, instead of mayors doing the appointments, the governor said he should have the authority to appoint barangay leaders.
In an Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod interview, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, however, said DILG should be the leading body in choosing officials for local barangays and not mayors.
He opposes the idea of giving mayors the authority because they could use it as a way of politicizing.
Although, he also stated he wants the House of Representatives to discuss proper guidelines for the appointment of barangay officials.
For Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, he said the administration must research the idea well in order to come out with the best decision.
He also said guidelines should be made very clear.
“That would not be good politics if it’s a simple choosing, there should be a certain standard,” the mayor added.
Under the new proposal, all incumbent barangay officials will be terminated, all positions will be declared vacant, and all will be done in coordination with local officials and various sectors and groups.
Sueno added, although barangay elections will be postponed, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will continue as planned in October of this year.
Duterte earlier signed RA 10923 into law, postponing the barangay and SK polls, originally set for October of last year./WDJ