By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, who was in Bacolod City yesterday to address 1,700 barangay captains from Iloilo at their general assembly at the SMX Convention Center at SM City Bacolod, said he believes the upcoming May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will proceed as scheduled, noting no senator has filed a bill seeking postponement.

With the House of Representatives currently with several proposals for postponing the elections, the senator said there is still time for congress to decide on the matter.

He also pointed out a possible scenario for federalism, where a consultative commission is formed by the president. The group would be tasked with providing recommendations ahead the Senatorial polls in 2019.

Angara also noted there will be a plebiscite which is similar to a public referendum.

Oriental Mindoro second district Rep. Reynaldo Umali and Surigao del Sur second district Rep. Johnny Pimentel are also expected to address the convention, both are proponents of bills calling for postponing the said polls.

Pimentel filed House Bill No. 7072, which seeks to postpone the said polls until October of this year. He explained, given coordination costs and expenses associated with organizing elections, the Commission on Elections and other involved agencies need additional time to ensure credible and effective barangay elections.

Umali filed a similar bill, however, his proposal would postpone polls until, at least, May 2019./DGB, WDJ