RA10923: AN ACT POSTPONING THE OCTOBER 2016 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9164, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10656, PRESCRIBING ADDITIONAL RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF BARANGAY
Republic Act No. 10923 postpones the October 2016 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to the fourth Monday of October 2017. Subsequent synchronized elections for barangay and SK officials will then be held on the second Monday of May 2020 and every three years thereafter. A crucial provision for the public is that all incumbent barangay officials will remain in office in a hold-over capacity until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless they are sooner removed or suspended for cause.
The Act also stipulates that the term of office for officials elected in May 2020 and subsequently will commence at noon on June 30 following their election. To maintain election integrity, the construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and bridges is prohibited for ten days immediately preceding the election. Similarly, the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new positions, promotions, or salary increases in the barangay are prohibited for ten days immediately preceding the election. Funds appropriated for the postponed elections will be considered continuing appropriations and used exclusively for the rescheduled polls and registration. Furthermore, until new SK officials are elected, the Sangguniang Barangay cannot use the SK fund except for youth development and empowerment programs as outlined in the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.