Elections are one of the most important features of democracy. Fair and free elections are the hallmarks of true democratic governments, which are able to operate in a politically stable environment.
Based on these considerations, I would say that the fact that we are able to hold fairly peaceful, fair and free elections shows how democracy thrives and flourish in the Philippines, and that Filipinos are not chaotic or volatile as a people.
After the 2017 national elections, we will hold the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Barangay elections in 42,028 villages throughout the country.
The last barangay elections were held in October 2013, while the last SK elections were held in October 2010.
According to Commission on Elections (Comelec) some 55 million voters are registered to vote in the May polls.
Officials to be elected on May 14 are a barangay chairman and seven members of the Sangguniang Barangay (kagawad) as well as a Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, and seven members of the council.
In May 2019, the country will hold midterm elections, during which 12 senators and more than 200 members of the House of Representatives would be elected.
The newly elected senators will serve for six years, while the new members of the Lower House will serve for three years.
The winners in the 2019 elections will join the winners of the 2016 election to form the 18th Congress of the Philippines.
The barangay elections signal the beginning of election fever in the Philippines, although political groups become more active only during elections for district and national positions.
This early, the major political parties have begun preparing their respective slates for the Senate, while survey firms start gauging the potential public choices. A survey conducted by Pulse Asia on March 23 to 28 shows that if the midterm elections were held during that period, Senator Grace Poe would top the “Magic 12” senatorial candidates.
Over 70 percent of 1,200 respondents said they would vote for Poe, who ran for president in May 2016.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar followed, with 55.6 percent of the respondents saying they would vote for her if elections were held today.
Most of the probable winners are either incumbent or former members of the Senate.
Below are the people who topped the survey list:
2-3. Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano (53.8 percent)
4-6. Senator Nancy Binay (45.8 percent)
4-7. Senator Sonny Angara (44.9 percent)
4-7. Davao City Mayor Sara Carpio Duterte (43.8 percent)
5-9. Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (39.8 percent)
7-12. Former Senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña (38.0 percent)
7-13. TV host Erwin Tulfo (36.7 percent)
8-15. Former Senator Lito Lapid (33.8 percent)
8-15. Former PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (33.1 percent)
8-15. Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada (32.8 percent)
9-15. Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos (32.2 percent)
10-19. Senator Bam Aquino (30.5 percent)
10-19. Senator JV Ejercito (29.0 percent)
Pulse Asia said only 15 of the 58 probable senatorial bets included in the survey’s senatorial poll would have a “statistical chance of winning” come May 2019.
It’s still a long way before the final list of candidates for the 12 seats in the Senate, as well as for the Lower House, will be completed.
What is important is that the Philippines continues to pursue peaceful, fair and free elections. Controversies cannot all be avoided during elections, as even the United States, recognized as the leading democratic country in the world, has yet to find closure to the alleged irregularities that happened during the Hillary Clinton-Donald Trump presidential contest.
Keeping elections peaceful, fair and free does not only allow people to make independent choices, but also show our political maturity as a people.
Barangay and midterm elections are not expected to be a significant contributor to economic growth as presidential elections, but they help firm up the country’s image as a politically stable place where investors can put up industries and operate businesses.
That is something we need to continue driving our economy forward.
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