The Philippine Online Chronicles

A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official expressed disappointment over the supposed slow and late procurement of ballots and ballot boxes for the upcoming October 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said in an interview with QTV Balitanghali, “Honestly, with this slow performance of the [Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)] and these problems cropping up, I think the consequence is [disappointment by] Comelec.” It was also Sarmiento who earlier mentioned the high spoilage of official ballots, forcing the poll body to order P14.5 million worth of additional paper.

BAC chairman Ferdinand Rafanan defended the committee saying, “Is it our fault that we received the instructions only on September 20? Is it our fault that we received only the specifications of the ballot paper on September 20 when the election is on October 25?”

Not enough interest?

Earlier reports show that not enough people were interested in registering for the Barangay and SK polls. An analysis by Benjie Oliveros in alternative news site Bulatlat.com explained “The Importance of the Much-Ignored Barangay Elections.”

While most people snub it and amid the deliberate scheduling in between the national and local elections, Olivares pointed out, political parties are always in a race to control and influence the barangay elections.

This is because the smallest unit of government is also very powerful, and is involved in community functions, from the implementation of grassroots social services to the handling of funds, such as that of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Intergrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), the Department of Social Welfare and Development's core community empowerment program.

Barangay officials also stay longer in power, with five years to a term, and may be able to foster goodwill between their community members and officials in higher positions.

Inquirer.net recently posted an article listing basic information every beginner would need to know about the barangay nd SK polls.