By CESAR JOLITO III

Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is pushing for a six-month postponement of the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), citing the country’s ongoing fuel crisis as a pressing concern that warrants the reallocation of government resources.

Benitez said the funds earmarked for BSKE — estimated at around P14 million to P15 million — could be better utilized to assist communities affected by rising fuel costs and their economic impact.

“I would rather use the allocated funds to address those affected by the crisis,” Benitez said.

The lawmaker disclosed plans to file legislation seeking the deferment of the polls, emphasizing the need for government flexibility in times of crisis.

He argued that the current situation presents a “valid and just cause” to justify the proposed postponement.

However, Benitez acknowledged the legal challenges surrounding such a move, noting that a previous ruling by the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the postponement of elections unconstitutional.

Despite this, he maintained that extraordinary circumstances may necessitate reconsideration.

He also warned of the potential escalation of the crisis, saying it could worsen beyond the scale of the Covid-19 pandemic, underscoring the need to conserve government resources for emergency response.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections is continuing preparations for the 2026 BSKE, including a nationwide voter registration drive that aims to enlist 1.4 million new voters.

The registration period, which resumed on October 20, 2025, is set to run until May 18, 2026.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. signed into law a measure moving the BSKE from December 1, 2025, to the first Monday of November 2026, with subsequent elections to be held every four years./CJ, WDJ