Latest news with #BSKE
GMA Network
17 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Leni Robredo, Naga bgy. execs meet Escudero at Senate
Former Vice President and Naga City mayor-elect Leni Robredo on Monday went to the Senate, along with barangay officials, to pay a courtesy call on Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero. LOOK: Former Vice President and Naga City mayor-elect Leni Robredo is at the Senate for a courtesy call on Senate President Chiz Escudero. Along with her are several barangay officials from Naga City. @gmanews — Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) June 2, 2025 In their meeting, Escudero told members of Naga City's Liga ng mga Barangay that the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) is planning to push for the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in December 2025. 'Ang discussion, ang talakayan sa LEDAC noong isang linggo, ang direksyong tinatahak ay matutuloy ang eleksyon pero pagpapasyahan pa 'yan ng Kamara at ng Senado,' Escudero said. (The discussion in LEDAC last week was that they are looking at pushing through the elections, but that will still be decided by the House and the Senate.) Should the BSKE proceed this December, the Senate President said that the LEDAC is also eyeing to extend the term of the next elected officials to four years. 'Ito pinagkasunduan na 'yung term ay apat na taon sa LEDAC pero ulitin ko, pag uusapan, tatalakayin, at pagbobotohan pa rin 'yan sa plenaryo ng Kamara at ng Senado,' Escudero said. (It was agreed in the LEDAC that the term of the officials will be extended to four years, but again, this will still be discussed and voted upon in the plenary of the House and the Senate.) Robredo, meanwhile, expressed concerns regarding the upcoming 2025 BSKE, as the term of the incumbent officials would only be limited to two years. 'Kung matutuloy kasi ang eleksyon ngayon, sobrang iksi ng term. So tingin ko lang, parang hindi mabibigyan 'yung incumbent na mga barangay officials ng enough time para maipakita o magawa 'yung mga pinromise during the campaign or 'yung mga plano maisakatuparan,' the newly elected mayor said. (If the election pushes through, the term of the incumbent officials is too short. I think they will not be given enough time to fulfill what they promised during the campaign or to implement their plans.) 'Ayaw ko sanang matuloy dahil tingin ko, 'yung just over two years na term, sobrang iksi,' she added. (I don't want the elections to proceed because I believe that the term of just over two years is too short.) Robredo further said that she is hopeful that the BSKE set for December will be postponed. Under Comelec Resolution No. 11132, the poll body set the election day for BSKE on Monday, December 1, 2025. The full calendar of activities for the 2025 BSKE may be viewed here: —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec issues calendar of activities for 2025 BSKE
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released the calendar of activities for the 2025 Baranggay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December. Under Comelec Resolution No. 11132, the poll body set the Election Day for BSKE on Monday, December 1, 2025. Voters may cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Counting and canvassing of votes and proclamation of winning candidates will immediately follow after the closing of polls. Voter registration and applications for membership to the Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK) will start on July 1 to 11, 2025. Meanwhile, the last day to file opposition for the application for voter registration and KK members will be on July 21. Other scheduled activities are as follows: July 25 — last day to conduct inspection of voting centers/ polling places July 28 — approval or disapproval of applications for voter registration and membership to the KK; the list of approved and denied applications shall be posted within five days from the decision August 8 — last day to file request for transfer/change/correction of name/address of voting centers/ polling precincts August 18 — last day to filed petition for inclusion of voters August 25 to September 15 — onsite project of precincts (POPs) verification August 26 — last day to file petition for exclusion of voters August 28 — last day for election registration board (ERB) meeting to certify the list of voters and approval of abatement process in the VRS database August 28 — last day for ERBs, citizen arms, civic organizations to verify, certify, and seal the list of voters for BSKE September 2 — last day of posting of the BSKE certiied and final computerized voters' list October 1 to October 7 — filing of certificates of candidacy October 6 — deadline for submission of POPs to the Comelec en banc October 27 to December 31 — election period November 20 to November 29 — campaign period November 30 — Eve of Election Day December 31 — last day of filing of Statements of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCEs) Prohibited acts Meanwhile, Comelec Resolution No. 11132 also stated the prohibited acts during the campaign period leading to Election Day. According to the resolution, vote-buying, vote-selling and premature campaigning will be considered as illegal acts after the filing of COCs in October. Appointment or hiring of new positions in government office, instrumentality whether national or local, including government-owned or controlled corporations, except upon prior authority of the Commission will be banned starting October 17 to November 30, 2025. Spending ban will be implemented starting October 17 to December 1, 2025, the Comelec added. Once the Election period from October 27 to December 31 starts, the poll body will start prohibiting the following acts: gun ban candidates' use of security personnel or body guardd, except those with exemption alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of new precincts raising of funds through dances, lotteries, cockfights wagering upon results of election transfer or detail of officers and employees in civil service including public school teachers coercing, threatening, intimidating or terrorizing any election official or employees in the performance of his election duties illegal release of prisoners before or after the elections organization or maintenance of reaction forces, srike forces, or similar forces suspension of local elective officials Banned during the campaign period are the removing or destroying of legal election paraphernalia; posting or distributing of illegal campaign materials; making donations or gifts in cash or kind; appointing or using special policemen; using armored land, water, or aircraft; and policemen and provincial guards acting as bodyguards of public officials or candidates. Construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and bridges will likewise be barred from November 21 to November 30. At the eve of Election Day, liquor ban will be implemented nationwide. Also prohibited are any campaign activities as well as giving and accepting free transportation, food, drinks, or items of value. Meanwhile, the Comelec will prohibit campaigning, using voters affidavit of another person to vote; voting more than once; destroying or substituting of lawful campaign materials; soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda against a candidate within 30 meters from the polling place; opening of stalls for wares, merchandise, and refreshment within 30 meters from the polling place; and holding of fairs, boxing, horse race, and other similar sports on Election Day. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec urges law to institutionalize increase in teachers' honoraria
"Isa sa mga proposals ng inyong lingkod, sana magkaroon ng legislation na may automatic increase on a per election basis sa mga honoraria ng mga guro," Garcia said. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called for legislation institutionalizing increases in the honoraria for teachers serving as election staff and making the benefit tax-free. At a news forum on Thursday, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said that there will be no P2,000 across-the-board increase in the honoraria of teachers who will serve in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October. The said increase was implemented in the May 12 mid-term elections. Garcia said the proposed P14 billion budget of the poll body for the 2025 BSKE was reduced to P11 billion. "Isa sa mga proposals ng inyong lingkod, sana magkaroon ng legislation na may automatic increase on a per election basis sa mga honoraria ng mga guro. Ibig sabihin, 'pag nagkakaroon din tayo ng increase sa gastusin, dapat may automatic increase sa honoraria ng mga guro,' Garcia told the monthly forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters' Association (MACHRA). (One of our proposals is for the crafting of a legislation that would automatically increase the honoraria of teachers per election basis.) 'Syempre pinu-push pa rin natin ang tax exemption ng mga guro. Hindi naisakatuparan nitong 2025 national and local elections. Sana magkaroon ng tax exemption sa BSKE and such other benefits. Susuportahan po natin yun," he said. (We're also pushing for the tax exemption of teachers. This did not happen in the 2025 NLE but we are hoping it would be implemented in the BSKE.) Teachers who served as poll workers in the recent elections received additional P2,000 honoraria. This gives ERB members with P10,000 and chairpersons with P12,000 but still subject to tax. According to Garcia, the Comelec will urge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for additional honoraria, similar to the P1,000 increase granted to teachers for the 2025 May elections. 'Kahit hindi mismo sinasabi ng mga guro, nararapat lang yun,' Garcia added. (They may not say anything but teachers deserve that.) In September 2024, the Comelec said the budget cuts in their proposed 2025 funding will impact the preparations for the 2025 elections including the BSKE. It would likewise affect the voter education for the polls. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec hopes for automated barangay, SK polls in future
Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday that he is hoping for the passage of a law that would allow the conduct of an automated or hybrid method of voting in Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the future. 'Sana magkaroon ng batas na para isama o yung ninanais ng iba na magkaroon ng tinatawag na hybrid — may manual na, mayroon pang automated. Susuporta kami sa ganoon. Una, hindi naman ganoon karami ang iboboto sa barangay…so hindi ganoon kahaba yung babasahin katulad ng sa national at local elections,' said Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview. (I hope there will be a law to include it or what some are wishing for, which is hybrid voting — there is manual and there is automated elections at the same time. We will support that. Because in the first place, there are only a few positions to vote for in the the canvassing of votes is not that long like in the national and local elections.) The upcoming BSKE on December 1 will be done manually, which means the public will cast their votes by writing the names of their bets for barangay captain, members of Sangguniang Barangay, and chairperson and members of SK. Garcia pointed out that having automated BSKE will not only produce faster results, but it will also safeguard electoral board members and canvassers from any threats. 'Kasi kapag mas mabilis ang resulta, hindi 'yan tumatagal nang magdamag o hanggang kinabukasan…walang violence, walang ballot box snatching, wala yung mga intimidation, threat, o kaya pagkamatay,' he added. (Because when the results are faster, it won' take overnight or until the next will be no violence, no ballot box snatching, no intimidation, threats, or even death.) Comelec conducted a pilot testing of automated BSK polls in three areas in Dasmariñas City, Cavite in 2023. Garcia said the barangays were able to proclaim the winners within an hour. However, the Comelec official said that some people still prefer writing down their votes. 'Sa bandang huli, may reason din kasi, aaminin ko kung bakit manual ang eleksyon sa ating barangay…kapag barangay gusto talaga sinusulat ng mga kababayan natin ang kanilang boto. Ayan naman, kinikilala natin ang bagay na 'yan. At siyempre mas matipid kapag manual na halalan,' said Garcia. (I must admit that there's a reason why the elections in the barangays are done manually. It's because many residents still prefer to write down their votes. And we recognize their preferences and manual elections would save us money as well.) The Comelec earlier launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the December polls. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec launches KAISA project ahead of December barangay, SK polls
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December. (Photo from NCIP) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December. Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay said that Project KAISA stands for 'Katapatan at Integridad para Sa Atin.' 'Project KAISA also officially launches the BSKE, Project KAISA was founded on a simple yet powerful premise: katapatan at integridad. Dahil ang ating eleksyon ay naguumpisa at nagtatapos sa pagtitiwala ng sambayanang Pilipino,' he said in a press conference. (Project KAISA also officially launches the BSKE. Project KAISA was founded on a simple yet powerful premise: honesty and integrity. Because our elections begin and end with the trust of the Filipino people.) The commissioner noted that it's very important to ensure an honest and truthful BSKE as barangays and SK are crucial to have an effective national government. 'The BSKE plays a critical role in the grassroots level of our local government. It is actually the cornerstone of our democracy [...] Thus, from the filing of candidacies, in the smallest and remotest barangay, to the casting of votes, and the proclamation of winners, every procedure must be anchored on katapatan at integridad,' said Bulay. 'It will remind us that effective governance starts actually at the barangay hall and transformative leadership starts with the youth at SK,' he added. Meanwhile, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said that the poll body is also aiming to encourage more voters from the vulnerable sector to cast their votes. 'Ang gusto kong ipahatid sa bawat isa na mapagtulung-tulungan natin na masigurado na, lalong lalo na ang vulnerable sector, yung miyembro ng indigenous peoples, yung nakatatanda, yung may kapansanan sila dapat ang binibigyan ng patungkol at tugon lalo na sa araw ng halalan,' he said. (What I want to convey to everyone is that we can work together to ensure that, especially the vulnerable sector, members of indigenous peoples, the elderly, and those with disabilities, are given consideration and a response, especially on election day.) The Comelec also signed a memorandum of agreement with various organizations, including the National Youth Commission, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, various election watchdogs, and academic institution to enhance the voting experience of the Filipinos in the December 1 polls. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
