The proposed postponement of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan (SK) elections drew mixed reactions from the Boholanos with an emerging consesus leaning towards pushing through with the elections.

The synchronized barangay and SK elections will be held on October 31, 2016 pursuant to section 1 of Republic Act (RA) 9164 as amended by RA 9340 but calls for its postponement has snowballed in Congress.

Listeners responded to the question – President Rodrigo Duterte called for the postponement of the barangay and SK elections fearing that narco politics will influence the choice of officials. Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to move the barangay and SK elections to a latter date?

Respondents thru calls and text messages over DYRD “Inyong Alagad” disagreed with delaying the polls since it will just prolong the tenure of corrupt and inefficient officials.

But callers and texters also agreed to the postponement proposal for barangay officials with good performance to continue in office.

Twenty one callers responded while twenty nine texted their opinions during the two hour survey on Monday, August 29, 2016.

It was close for those who called with ten callers saying they agreed with the President to postpone the elections while eleven said elections should push through as scheduled.

Of the 29 who texted their opinions, twelve agreed to delay the elections while seventeen disagreed.

“Expenses for the coming elections should be used for the setting up of rehabilitation centers for drug addicts”, one of them said.

Those who agreed with the delay said that they were satisfied with the performance of their barangay officials.

It also made sense, according to one caller that Duterte should be given enough time to fulfill his election promise to rid the country of illegal drugs and should not be hampered with an election.

However, those who disagreed with the postponement were more vociferous in their opposition saying that “the proliferation of drugs in their localities was due to the tolerance and collusion of barangay officials who should be replaced”.

Critics said that with the battle cry “change is coming”, elections should push through since Duterte overwhelmingly won on his strong position against drugs.

Reactions mainly focused on the present performance of barangay officials whose tenure aggravated the present drug problem with these officials involvement in the drug trade.

But majority of the respondents took exception to the revival of the SK and call for its abolition as a breeding ground for future corrupt politicians.

No date has been proposed in lieu of the mandated October 31, 2016 barangay and SK elections. (Chito M. Visarra)