Republic Act No. 10923

AN ACT POSTPONING THE OCTOBER 2016 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT. NO. 9164, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10656 PRESCRIBING ADDITIONAL RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippine Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended by Republic Act No. 9340 and Republic Act No. 10656, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

          “SECTION 1. Date of Election. – There shall be synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections, which shall be held on July 15, 2002. Subsequent synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held on the last Monday of October 2007 and every (3) years thereafter: Provided, That the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections on October 31, 2016 shall be postponed to the fourth Monday of October 2017. Subsequent synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held on the second Monday of May 2020 and every three (3) years thereafter.”

SEC. 2. – Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended by Republic Act No. 9340, is hereby amended to read as follows:

          “SEC. 4. Assumption of Office. – The term of office of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials elected under this Act shall commence at noon of November 30 next following their elections: Provided, however, That the term of office of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials elected in the May 2020 elections and subsequently thereafter, shall commence at noon of June 30 next following their election.”

SEC. 3. – Hold Over. – Until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, all incumbent barangay officials shall remain in office, unless sooner removed or suspended for cause.

SEC. 4. – Section 3 of Republic Act No. 6679 is hereby amended to read as follows:

          “SEC. 3. Ban on Government Projects. – The construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and bridges shall be prohibited for a period of ten 10 days immediately preceding the date of election, the provisions of Section 261, paragraphs (v) and (w) of the Omnibus Election Code to the contrary notwithstanding.”

SEC. 5. – Prohibition on Appointments of Government Officials and Employees. – The appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, or giving of salary increases, remuneration or privileges in the barangay shall be prohibited for a period of ten 10 days immediately preceding the election, the provision of Section 261, paragraph (g) of the Omnibus Election Code to the contrary notwithstanding.

SEC. 6. Use of Appropriation. – The following appropriations for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall be considered as continuing appropriations and shall be used exclusively for the conduct of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan registration and elections:

          (a) The amount of Nine hundred thirty-six million one hundred twenty-nine thousand pesos (P936,129,000) appropriated for the sangguniang kabataan elections and One hundred fifty-five million one hundred sixty-seven thousand pesos (P155,167,000) appropriated for the sangguniang kabataan registration under Republic Act No. 10651, otherwise known as “The General Appropriation Act”; and

          (b) The amount of Five billion nine hundred ninety-four million two hundred forty-three thousand pesos (P5,994,243,000) for the sangguniang kabataan and barangay elections and Five hundred six million two hundred seventy-four thousand (P506,274,000) appropriated for the sangguniang kabataan and barangay elections under Republic Act No. 10717, otherwise known as “The 2016 General Appropriations Act”.

SEC. 7. Use of Sangguniang Kabataan Fund. – Until the new sangguniang kabataan officials have been duly elected and qualified, the sangguniang barangay shall not use the sangguniang kabataan fund except for development and empowerment programs as provided in Republic Act No. 10742, otherwise known as “The Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015”.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The COMELEC shall, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved: October 15, 2016.