Registration of new voters for barangay, SK polls set July

The Commission on Elections on Tuesday announced that the registration for new voters will resume on July 15 to 22 for the October 29 synchronized elections for barangay (village) officials and the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council). Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos said those qualified to register for barangay elections are those who are 18 years old by October 29. Youth aged 15 to 17 need to register so they can take part in the SK elections. The last barangay and SK elections were held on July 15, 2002. The next election was supposed to be on May 2005 but it was postponed and moved to October this year. The Philippines has about 42,000 barangays. Republic Act 9340, passed on September 22, 2005, set the date for the next barangay and SK elections on the last Monday of October 2007 and every three years thereafter. The term of office of new or re-elected village and youth leaders would start November 30. RA 9340, Section 8 provides the amount necessary for its implementation shall be taken from the appropriations of the Comelec under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the supplementary appropriations, or the Comelec savings not exceeding P 300 Million. Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya earlier said some P2 billion has been reserved for the barangay and SK elections. -GMANews.TV