Don’t vote scalawags in barangay elections
>> Wednesday, May 24, 2023
ELECTIONS
Barangay elections are
expected to be held this year, a crucial event that will determine the future
of local communities in the country.
It represents an opportunity for citizens to exercise their right to vote and choose leaders that will lead their community. A vote means choosing between good and bad candidates. It could either bring progress or push a community into a dismal situation for the next three years.
The barangay, being the smallest political unit in the country, plays a crucial role in the daily lives of Filipinos. Barangay officials are responsible for maintaining peace and order, providing basic services such as health care and education and implementing policies that affect lives of their constituents.
With the right leaders, barangays can become centers of growth, development, and progress but this also depends on constituents. Barangay officials cannot make a significant impact without the support and active participation of the community. But confidence of the people in barangay leaders dwindled due to corruption, dishonesty, bad governance among others.
Some people now believe barangay elections are just as dirty as national politics.
But despite this, by voting for the right barangay leaders, citizens can ensure their community is led by competent, trustworthy, and accountable officials who have their best interests at heart. Choosing the right leaders means selecting individuals who have a proven track record of leadership, integrity and commitment to public service.
Electing the wrong leaders can have severe consequences for the community. Incompetent or corrupt officials can cause the mismanagement of resources, create divisions among residents, and stifle progress and development. Choosing the wrong leaders can affect not only the present but also the future of a community.
There are a lot of cases wherein government services and programs are not delivered to the community just because the chairman is not allied with the local chief executive or the village chief is simply incompetent and vindictive to some of his constituents.
Political patronage and partisanship have long hounded the integrity of Philippine politics. These practices have been the primordial causes of graft and corruption, nepotism, and misallocation of government funds and resources.
These can also erode public trust in the government and taint the integrity of public institutions. Barangay elections must transcend colors and go above the political spectrum.
This should serve as an open call to politicians at the higher echelon of the government that whoever wins in the upcoming elections—whether or not they come from the same political camp—the people should be at the fore of their priorities.
Thus, citizens must take the upcoming barangay elections seriously. They must educate themselves about qualifications and platforms of each candidate, attend campaign rallies, debates, and town hall meetings, and engage with fellow residents to discuss the issues and concerns affecting their community.
Their active participation and engagement are crucial to achieving the kind of progress and development that will genuinely serve their interests.
The people should be the center of this entire electoral exercise. They must reclaim the space that is rightfully and ideally theirs. So out with the scalawags. Don’t vote for them.
It represents an opportunity for citizens to exercise their right to vote and choose leaders that will lead their community. A vote means choosing between good and bad candidates. It could either bring progress or push a community into a dismal situation for the next three years.
The barangay, being the smallest political unit in the country, plays a crucial role in the daily lives of Filipinos. Barangay officials are responsible for maintaining peace and order, providing basic services such as health care and education and implementing policies that affect lives of their constituents.
With the right leaders, barangays can become centers of growth, development, and progress but this also depends on constituents. Barangay officials cannot make a significant impact without the support and active participation of the community. But confidence of the people in barangay leaders dwindled due to corruption, dishonesty, bad governance among others.
Some people now believe barangay elections are just as dirty as national politics.
But despite this, by voting for the right barangay leaders, citizens can ensure their community is led by competent, trustworthy, and accountable officials who have their best interests at heart. Choosing the right leaders means selecting individuals who have a proven track record of leadership, integrity and commitment to public service.
Electing the wrong leaders can have severe consequences for the community. Incompetent or corrupt officials can cause the mismanagement of resources, create divisions among residents, and stifle progress and development. Choosing the wrong leaders can affect not only the present but also the future of a community.
There are a lot of cases wherein government services and programs are not delivered to the community just because the chairman is not allied with the local chief executive or the village chief is simply incompetent and vindictive to some of his constituents.
Political patronage and partisanship have long hounded the integrity of Philippine politics. These practices have been the primordial causes of graft and corruption, nepotism, and misallocation of government funds and resources.
These can also erode public trust in the government and taint the integrity of public institutions. Barangay elections must transcend colors and go above the political spectrum.
This should serve as an open call to politicians at the higher echelon of the government that whoever wins in the upcoming elections—whether or not they come from the same political camp—the people should be at the fore of their priorities.
Thus, citizens must take the upcoming barangay elections seriously. They must educate themselves about qualifications and platforms of each candidate, attend campaign rallies, debates, and town hall meetings, and engage with fellow residents to discuss the issues and concerns affecting their community.
Their active participation and engagement are crucial to achieving the kind of progress and development that will genuinely serve their interests.
The people should be the center of this entire electoral exercise. They must reclaim the space that is rightfully and ideally theirs. So out with the scalawags. Don’t vote for them.
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