CITY OF SAN FERNANDO (PIA) -- Commission on Elections (COMELEC) urged the Kapampangan youth to take part in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023 on October 30. 

Provincial Election Supervisor Lydia Florentino-Pangilinan stressed that the right of suffrage as a human right is related to the concept of democracy and sovereignty.

She said this right identifies four essential and interlocking rights including the right to take part in the government, right to vote and be elected, the right to equal access to public office, and the right to self-determination. 

“The upcoming BSKE gives us a chance to take part in the government. It does not necessarily mean that we all run for public office, but we are given the chance to choose and elect candidates who will best represent our needs and aspirations for our respective localities. As voters, we are entrusting them to deliver what we need as a community,” she said. 

The election supervisor also emphasized the sanctity of each vote, saying this will define the future of the society.

Thus, Pangilinan said it is important to educate the youth so that they are empowered to choose the best and most qualified leaders that can pave the way for them to have a better life in the future. 

“Candidates are applicants to the specific post they are aspiring for. We [voters] are the bosses. With this, we must be thorough and careful in choosing whom we elect,” she pressed. 

The COMELEC said that all candidates must be citizens of the Philippines; residents of the barangays where they intend to run at least one year before the elections; must be able to read and write Filipino and the local dialect; a registered voter of the barangay where they will run and at least 18 years old on the election day for the Barangay officials; must be a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan and at least 18 years old but not more than 24 years old on the day of election for the Sangguniang Kabataan officials; and must not been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude. 

Pangilinan said the nepotism rule also applies for SK candidates, meaning they should not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official, or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city/municipal or barangay official in the locality where the aspirant seeks to be elected. 

Meanwhile, the Commission also reminded candidates not to engage in premature campaigning which may lead to their disqualification. 

Winning candidates will serve in their respective posts until 2025. BSKE will then be held every three years thereafter. 

COMELEC clarified that 15-17 years old voters will be given one ballot to vote for the SK elections.  Those belonging to ages 18-30 will be given two ballots for the Barangay and SK elections; while 31 and up voters will only vote for the barangay elections.

Voting hours will be from 7:00AM to 3:00PM only, and the manner of elections will be manual. 

A total of 23,151 candidates in the province filed their COCs. Of these, 1473 will run for punong barangay; 12,210 for barangay kagawads; 1380 for SK chairperson; and 8,088 for SK kagawads. 

In addition, Pampanga has a total of 1,646,340 voters for the upcoming BSKE. Out of these, 26,483 voters are 15-17 years old. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)