MANILA, Philippines – Several barangays are going to elect their first set of officials on Monday, May 14. 

The 2018 barangay elections come almost 5 years since the last one in October 2013 after several postponents. The upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan polls, meanwhile, is the latest after almost 8 years. (READ: Funds and power: 5 things we entrust the barangay officials we elect) 

According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, 20 barangays were created within this period. Most of them – 12 barangays – were created through plebiscites held in the first quarter of 2018.

• 7 barangays in Navotas, Metro Manila
• 7 in San Pedro, Laguna
• 3 in Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte
• 1 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
• 1 in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro
• 1 in Asipulo, Ifugao

Below is the complete list:

After the polls, winning and losing candidates must file their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) by June 13.

After two postponements

The barangay and SK elections had been originally scheduled for October 31, 2016, but were postponed twice: first to October 23, 2017, then when it was finally set for May 14, 2018. (READ: TIMELINE: Efforts to postpone barangay, SK elections) 

President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2016 said that postponing the elections then would save the government money. He added that that drug lords would likely back politicians who would protect them.

But several critics have hit the continuous postponements, saying that “it’s unsettling to observe that postponing elections is becoming the norm rather than the exception.”  

Election watchdog National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), meanwhile, said that electing officials is important in any democracy. 

“In a truly functioning democracy, regularly renewing the mandate of elected officials is an exercise of good governance,” the group said. – Rappler.com