Eddiegul convinced polls will be delayed

CEBU, Philippines – With more than 15 House bills filed plus the collective opinion of his colleagues, first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas believes that the October synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be postponed to a later date.

"The consensus in the House (of Representatives), even from the LP (Liberal Party) congressmen, NPC (National People's Coalition), PMP (Pwersa ng Masang Pili-pino), is to postpone the election," said the congressman in a press conference at his office at the University of the Visayas.

Gullas was among those who filed a bill for such purpose, citing that the country had just gone through an electoral process, and it's about time that it temporarily forgets "politics" and "concentrate on development."

The veteran lawmaker has proposed that the barangay and SK elections be moved to the second week of October next year, just a year later than scheduled.

He said several of his colleagues share this thought, although they differ in the dates. Some want the elections moved to May 2011, others a year after that. He does not want it in 2012, as it would "interlap" with the preparations for the 2013 local elections.

These bills are already being studied by the House Committee on Rules, and Gullas said if things go smoothly, they will make it through "in time" before the Octo-ber polls.

And if the proposals are approved, the P3.2 billion funding can be used for "other purposes," he said.

But there are those who oppose the idea of postponing the coming elections.

According to them rescheduling the elections would mean additional funding, as each year the price of election paraphernalia increases, which means that P3.2 bil-lion budget for this year, will not be enough for next year, or the year after.

Gullas however said the Congress does not think that way, instead "we focus on substance not the accidence."

He said the Congress does not think of the difference of price of the election materials, but of what the postponement can do to the country. (FREEMAN)