Barangay officials face fundraising challenges during elections

MANILA, Philippines – Today citizens perform their duty of choosing who their next barangay captain will be. The 2013 barangay elections poses a challenging question to voters, and to barangay officials as well.

Bea Cupin files this video blog.

Emotional, and deeply personal. That’s how officials describe the barangay elections. 5 months after the 2013 midterm elections, Filipinos again head out to vote for a barangay or village captain, alongside those who will compose the barangay council. 

But the village polls is not without its own set of problems. Comelec still tries to source 400 million pesos in funds for the deputization of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces, and teachers who will serve as board of election tellers. 

Comelec required local government units to raise P10,000 per barangay in the upcoming polls. It’s something barangay officials protest. 

RICOJUDGE ECHIVERRI, LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY PRESIDENT: We are afraid of paying because we might be violating a law on election polls that we are not allowed to disburse funds during election period. And at the same time, if we do not pay, Comelec might charge again an election offense on us. Of course, for barangays who can afford to pay it’s okay but for those who cannot, namely there are a lot because not all barangays have shares, most especially the provinces, and if you get P10,000 from them or more that means a lot to them most especially for volunteer barangay tanods. 

By 3pm today, polls close. And by day’s end, the Philippines basic units of politics will have new leaders at their helm.

Bea Cupin, Rappler, Caloocan. – Rappler.com