Lawmaker wants barangay elections moved to 2011 due to El Niño

A lawmaker has urged Congress to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (village and youth council) elections to October 2011, saying that the resources for that purpose should better be used for mitigating the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Sur said the estimated budget of P3 billion for the barangay and SK elections should go to agricultural programs instead. "We need this budget to finance the implementation of government programs that would help address the effects of the El Niño," Plaza said in an article on the House of Representatives website. The barangay and Sangguniang Barangay elections are scheduled on October 2010. Up for grabs are 43,000 posts for barangay and SK chairman and 293,965 for Sangguniang Barangay. Plaza said the government needs to strengthen its policies on land and water utilization and invest in agricultural research and infrastructure. "There is a need for the government to institute policies and implement programs that would address the impending disaster of the El Niño," he said. He pointed out that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) already warned of a long dry spell in 2010 due to El Niño. In 1982 to 1983, El Niño caused P700 million in agricultural damage. Among the severely hit provinces were Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Northern Visayas, and Western Mindanao. In 1992 to 1993, another drought hit the agricultural sector by P4.1 billion and among the worst hit were South Cotabato, Isabela, Bukidnon, Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Cagayan. "I fear that if this situation is not dealt with the soonest time possible, aside from the agricultural damage, there would be other devastating effects of El Niño such as domestic water supply shortages, health problems and significant reduction in the productivity and subsequent revenue of various industries among others," Plaza said. — with a report by Nikka Corsino/LBG, GMANews.TV