Barangay elections 2023: Why Filipinos should engage and vote

The barangay elections are expected to be held later this year. This is a crucial event that will determine the future of local communities across the country. It represents an opportunity for citizens to exercise their right to vote and choose the leaders that will lead their community.While it may sound promising, this right comes with a caveat. A vote serves as the demarcation that separates the good from the evil. 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 the lives of their constituents. With the right leaders in place, barangays can become centers of growth, development, and progress.

However, the success of a barangay also depends on its people. Barangay officials cannot make a significant impact without the support and active participation of the community. But the confidence of the people in their barangay leaders has dwindled over time, affecting their faith as well in the barangay elections at large. They believe that the barangay elections are just as dirty as national politics.

By voting for the right barangay leaders, citizens can ensure that 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 a commitment to public service.

On the other hand, 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. It is essential to remember that the consequences of 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 chair is not allied with the local chief executive. 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. If anything, 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.

Therefore, citizens must take the upcoming barangay elections seriously. They must educate themselves about the 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 alone should be the center of this entire electoral exercise. They must reclaim the space that is rightfully and ideally theirs.

Levi Inocentes,

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