THE SENATE on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill postponing village and youth elections to December 5, 2022 from May next year.

With 21 “yes” and zero “no” votes, the chamber passed Senate Bill 1043, which will allow the Commission on Elections to hold the elections in the same year as the presidential election.

Also yesterday, a House of Representatives committee endorsed the deferment of the elections to May 2023.

Lawmakers from both houses will have to agree on a reconciled version of the bill at a bicameral conference committee once the House plenary approves its own version.

The Senate bill will extend the term of local officials, whose three-year term was cut short by a previous postponement.

The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections earlier said postponing the elections unnecessarily extends officials’ terms without the people’s approval. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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