By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — Local government units have until March 31, 2019 to hold the special elections to fill up vacant Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) seats in their jurisdictions.
The holding of the special elections was moved from January to March due to Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019-04 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) dated January 17, 2019 amended provision of MC 2018-212 on the schedule of the conduct of elections.
Under the original circular the special elections should be conducted within 30 days after receipt of the circular. MC 2018-212 was received by the DILG Iloilo City on December 26, 2018.
“This was extended because of some issues raised not only by DILG Region 6 but a lot of regions of the DILG, particularly on issues in Comelec (Commission on Elections) that they will hold in abeyance their participation in the scheduled SK special elections because they still have issues waiting to be resolved by their legal office in Manila,” Atty. Ferdinand Panes, DILG director for Iloilo City explained in an interview Thursday.
Following the directive, Panes already instructed all SK chairpersons to put on hold their scheduled elections. He said that they could not conduct the special elections without the Comelec.
“We will be awaiting the go signal either from the higher authorities of the DILG or from the Comelec,” he said.
The DILG has already received several requests for special elections. The SK of South Baluarte in Molo district was supposed to hold their elections on January 13.
All other SK chairpersons were informed to get an assurance of the Comelec joining them should they set another schedule.
He added that he was assured by Atty. Rainier Layson, Iloilo City Elections Supervisor, that they will immediately inform the DILG if they receive information regarding the holding of the special elections.
“That is already on the premise that the issue of Comelec is resolved,” he added.
Panes also made it clear that being held in abeyance is the SK elections but the preparatory matters like the registration of membership continues.
He added that should they still fail to fill up the vacant seats, then the DILG and other concerned offices will have to conduct a technical review of their budget for 2019.
Panes earlier said that his previous pronouncement that his office will not review their budget should they fail to hold special elections was meant to ensure that they would elect someone for the vacant seats.
More than 300 SK positions in 75 of Iloilo City’s 180 barangays are vacant. Some of those elected already resigned to look for work or go to school.
