SK candidates and supporters fell from the bridge
CAMPAIGN SERYE – A group of supporters and candidates for the SK elections in Davao City had a sudden mishap when the footbridge they were on collapsed while campaigning.
The 2023 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are scheduled for October 30, 2023. The upcoming elections will determine key positions at the grassroots level of governance.
These positions include 42,001 barangay captains, who serve as the chief executives of barangays, as well as 294,007 members of the Sangguniang Barangay, seven of the eight members in each barangay council. Additionally, the elections will decide on 42,001 SK chairpersons, who act as the eighth member of the Sangguniang Barangay, and 294,007 SK members, with seven members in each barangay’s youth council.
Originally scheduled for May 2020, the elections were postponed to December 2022 and then canceled in October 2022. However, the Supreme Court declared the cancellation unconstitutional. The election will proceed as scheduled, with the winners serving until 2025, followed by elections every three years.
As of 2023, there are new barangays, changes in jurisdiction, and name changes. Notably, the election includes areas from newly formed provinces and cities. Campaigning officially began on October 19, 2023, and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has been actively enforcing campaign rules, including the removal of illegal campaign materials.
Meanwhile, a group of supporters and candidates for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections found themselves in a precarious situation as they campaigned for the 2023 Barangay and SK Elections in Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City. Videos captured the dramatic rescue of the candidates and their supporters as they tumbled into the sea when the footbridge collapsed.
Reportedly, none of the five SK candidates or their supporters sustained injuries. The damaged footbridge was temporarily replaced with a bamboo one. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the bridge, prompting calls for a sturdier replacement, especially with the elections approaching.
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