ELECTORATES’ STAND ON REPUBLIC ACT NO.

10952
Ma. Paola Lou R. Ginez
BA Political Science

Abstract

This study revolved around the core, indispensable, and defining feature of a
democratic and a republican state which is the conduct of elections held at regular and
periodic intervals. Specifically, it sought to identify the stand of electorates on Republic
Act 10952, a law postponing the October 2017 elections to May 2018. The
methodology employed was descriptive in type, with Zone 7, Barangay 1, Jones,
Isabela as the locale and with the electorates residing therein as the respondents. The
data were gathered through the use of a survey questionnaire composed of three
parts classified into different grounds, and which were analyzed through means,
frequency and proportions. With regard to the provisions of the Act in the initial part of
the survey, electorates agreed to each part, while on the perceived effects of the Act,
the electorates disagreed that political dynasties will continue to arise in power, which
however inflict no effect to those of the effects being agreed upon by the respondents.
Nonetheless, the highlight of this survey is the overall stand of the electorates on
Republic Act 10952 answered in the latter part of the survey which then revealed that
94% is in favor of the law as compared to those who disapproved constituting 6%.
Thus, having interpreted the stand of the electorates on the Act, they are in support of
Republic Act 10952.

Keywords: Electorates, Election, Election postponement, Suffrage

Introduction conduct of elections held at regular,

periodic, and predictable intervals
Background of the Study (Tamayao, 2014).
The 1987 Constitution provides: The problem now is when
"The Philippines is a democratic and barangay elections are regularly and
republican State. Sovereignty resides in periodically postponed, rather than held,
the people and all government authority democracy and republicanism are
emanates from them." (Art. II, Sec. 1, eroded, and the sovereignty of the
Declaration of Principles). This is a note people diminishes. When the original
that the importance of suffrage, a term is extended, it is no longer the
political right conferred by the people who are the source of the
Constitution empowering a citizen to authority of the barangay officials during
participate in the process of government their holdover period but Congress’
cannot be understated as it is the legislative power. When the source of
bedrock of Philippine democracy and elective officials’ mandate is not the
republicanism. Removed, then the people’s sovereignty expressed through
Philippines is no longer democratic and elections, such political arrangement
republican as one of the cores, can hardly be characterized as
indispensable, and defining feature of democratic and republican, and
having that form of government is the therefore contrary to the Constitution. As
Marañon, 2017 stated, that while it is 2. What is the stand of the electorates
recognized that these principles operate on the perceived effects of Republic
in the realm of reality and that there are Act 10952?
indeed instances where postponement 3. What is the overall stand of the
is necessary, they cannot however have electorates on Republic Act 10952?
it done at whim or arbitrarily. There has
to be a reason for a postponement, a Theoretical Framework
cause so compelling that it overrides the
democratic principles of regularity of This study is anchored in the
elections. theory that the people who bear the
burden of government should share in
Admittedly, the postponement of the privilege of choosing the officials of
the aforementioned elections has that government. This is the theory of a
far-reaching consequences. The representative form of government
Congress, with the power to determine (Macolor vs. Amores, 1953). As this
the term of barangay officials, is giving study revolved around the right to
the public a view that is unsettling to suffrage, particularly about election, it is
observe, that postponing elections is by means the obligation of the people to
becoming the norm rather than the choose their officials for definite and
exception. It is time to put in mind the fixed periods to whom they entrust, for
significance of this event – the the time being as their representatives,
importance of exercising suffrage. It is the exercise of powers of government.
not just an act of selecting
representatives but an investment for In case of simultaneous
the future welfare of the nation, an postponement of elections, focusing on
investment which aims for an ideal Republic Act 10952 which postponed
development. the October 2017 Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections to May
Timely as it is, in order to know 2018, the electorates’ should not be
the stand of the Filipino electorates with robbed of their right to replace their
regards to the postponement of leaders or renew their trust on them
elections, let the focus be on Republic (Ballaran, 2017). Primarily, this study
Act 10952, the postponement of the was conducted to bear out the stand of
October 2017 elections to May 2018 as the electorates on: the provisions of the
the subject. Act; the perceived effects of the Act and;
the Act itself so as then to identify their
Statement of the Problem views regarding the said postponement
which has contributed to the suspension
Specifically, this study sought to of their right to vote that is undeniably
answer the following problems to an element of a representative
determine the stand of the electorates government.
on Republic Act No. 10952:
Methods
1. What is the stand of the electorates
on the provisions of Republic Act Research Design
10952?
This study used a quantitative
method of research, particularly a
survey method. According to Eliyahu, items; Part II covers the perceived
(2014), it is an approach in gathering effects of RA 10952, which is made up
information which focuses on describing of eleven items and; Part III, comprises
a phenomenon across a larger number the electorates stand on the law as a
of participants thereby providing the whole which is made up of one
possibility of summarizing question.
characteristics across groups or
relationships. Data Gathering Procedure

Study Site and Respondents The researcher sought first the

approval of the College dean for the
The locale of this study was conduct of the study outside the school
Barangay 01, Jones, Isabela while the premises. A letter was sent to the
respondents were the electorates Barangay Captain for permission to
residing therein. In choosing the target involve the electorates of the barangay
site, the researcher took into account as respondents of the study, as well as
the familiarity of the place thus has to have access to the data concerning
decided to do it home-based. While the population needed for the study.
obtaining the target population, fishbowl Given the permit to conduct and the
sampling, which is a random type of data to use, the researcher
sampling method, was used to avoid subsequently administered the
bias in arriving at a more specific area of questionnaires with a letter for the
focus. Zone 7 in particular was picked respondent in each and every
through draw lots of all the seven zones household of the zone, and collected for
in the barangay, and with a margin of a systematic data gathering.
error of one percent, computed through
Slovin’s formula, fifty-six households Data Analysis
were considered. The sample size was
The data gathered was treated,
determined depending on how many
and analyzed through the use of means,
electorates have willingly participated in
frequencies and proportions with the aid
each of the households, therefore
of Microsoft Excel. Moreover, the means
attaining fifty respondents.
were verbally interpreted through a
Research Technique 4-point Likert Scale.

The study used a Scope and Delimitation

researcher-made survey questionnaire
that is based on different grounds The study only sought to
concerning Republic Act No. 10952. It is determine the stand of the electorates
composed of three parts: Part I on the provisions of the said Act, on the
encompasses the stand of the perceived effects of the same Act, and
electorates on the provisions of RA their overall stand on the Act, hence,
10952, which is made up of seven does not include profile variables.
Results

This section of the study contains the results which aimed to identify the
stand of electorates on Republic Act No. 10952 which declared the postponement of
the October 2017 Barangay and SK elections to May 2018.

Table 1.Stand of Electorates on the Provisions of Republic Act 10952

Provisions of RA 10952 Mean Interpretation

The Barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections on October 2.84 Agree

2017 shall be postponed to the second Monday of May 2018.
(Sec. 1)

The term of office of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan 3.04 Agree

officials elected under this Act shall be three years. (Sec. 2)

All incumbent barangay officials shall remain in office, unless 2.94 Agree
sooner removed or suspended for cause. (Sec. 3)

The construction or maintenance of barangay-funded roads and 3.12 Agree

bridges shall be prohibited for the period of ten days
immediately preceding the date of election. (Sec. 4)

The appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new 3.14 Agree

position, promotion, or giving of salary increases, salary or
privileges in the barangay shall be prohibited for the period of
ten days immediately preceding the election. (Sec. 5)

A continuing appropriation of about P6.09 billion will be set 2.90 Agree

aside exclusively for the conduct of the Barangay and SK
registration and election in May 2018. (Sec. 6)

Until new sangguniang kabataan officials are elected and 3.18 Agree
qualified, the sangguniang barangay shall not use the
sangguniang kabataan fund except for youth development and
empowerment programs. (Sec. 7)
Grand Mean 3.023 Agree

It can be gleaned from Table 1 that in general, the fifty electorates

agreed on each of the provisions of RA 10952 as shown also by the grand mean.
Table 2.Stand of Electorates on the perceived effects of RA 10952

Perceived Effects of Republic Act 10952 Mean Interpretation

The local politicians' campaigns that are possibly funded by 2.96 Agree
drug money are prevented.

Dozens of barangay officials that are in the "narco-list," or 3.04 Agree

connected to the illegal drug trade are stopped.

Preparation for the May 2018 elections will be lengthened. 3.12 Agree
Responsible officials that are currently in position will be given 3.12 Agree
longer time to create projects and programs for the people they
govern.
The successive postponement of SK elections belittles the 2.94 Agree
potential of young leaders.

The holdover of positions by barangay officials affected by the 2.90 Agree

postponement of elections may lead to the discouragement of
aspiring applicants for candidacy.

Postponement of elections may cause exploitation to the budget 2.94 Agree

and resources allocated for the preparation of assumed
elections.

The simultaneous postponement of elections will lead to losing 2.94 Agree

of trust by the voters to the system of election.

The postponement of barangay elections would keep errant 2.66 Agree

officials in office.

Political Dynasties will continue to arise in power. 2.44 Disagree

This may just be a waste of time instead of being of help to the 2.52 Agree
progress of our country.
Grand Mean 2.871 Agree

Table 2 shows that electorates agreed on almost all of the perceived effects
of RA 10952 except for one which states that political dynasties will continue to
arise in power with a mean of only 2.44.
 Table 3.The Over-all Stand of Electorates on RA 10952

Frequency %

I am in favor of Republic Act No. 10952 which YES 47 94%

postponed the October 2017 Barangay and
SangguniangKabataan elections to May 2018. NO 3 6%

Total 50 100%

It can be gleaned in Table 3 that 94% of the electorates favored Republic Act
10952 while only 6% of the electorates disapproved of it.
electorates, likewise show the same
trait as having to hold on to the integrity
Discussion of being a voter that is obedient to the
law yet has limited knowledge about it
As to the provisions of the Act which probably led them to just obey
what the authorities implement.
The results revealed that
electorates agreed with the sections of As to the perceived effects of the Act
RA 10952 which is composed of the
date of election, term of office, hold The result revealed that
over, ban of government projects, electorates agreed on the perceived
prohibition of appointments of effects of RA 10952 which includes the
government officials, use of prevention of political campaigns
appropriations, and use of possibly funded by drug money, the halt
Sangguniang Kabataan fund. of barangay officials alleged to be
connected on illegal drug-trade, the
In similar situation, a news preparation of Commission on
article by Estepa, 2017 presented a Elections will be lengthened, the
survey conducted by two academics, responsible incumbent officials will be
and published in the Washington post given more time to provide projects for
that 52% of people who identify as or the people they govern, the successive
lean Republican said they would postponement of SK elections belittles
support postponing the 2020 election to the potential of young leaders, the
ensure that only eligible citizens could holdover of incumbent officials in
vote and 56% said they would support position may lead to discouragement of
such action to stop alleged voter fraud. aspiring applicants for candidacy, the
However, it was said that this support postponement may cause budget
was more prevalent among exploitation allocated for the elections,
Republicans who were younger; less the tendency of losing the trust of
educated, had less factual knowledge voters to the electoral process, the
of politics and strongly identified with errant officials will still be in office, and
the party of the incumbent government. that this Act may just be a waste of time
That is in the American setting, but as instead of being of help to the country’s
the present study also implies, Filipino
progress. However, electorates while 6% of them are not, which
disagreed on one perceived effect perhaps is because of the delay it has
stating that political dynasties will caused to the voting public to exercise
continue to arise in power. their right to replace their officials or
renew their trust on them (Bueza, et. al.
Thus, electorates perceived 2017).
Republic Act 10952 as a law having its
good and bad effects as the first four Conclusion
effects presented portrays the
advantages of having the Act, and as In relation to the theory that the
the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth people who bear the burden of
and eleventh effects presented portrays government should share in the
the disadvantages of the Act. Even so, privilege of choosing the officials of that
as with the tenth effect presented, the government, it is deemed in this study
electorates do not perceive it as an that the right to suffrage of the
effect that has rooted out of the law, electorates are not by any means taken
and that they do not see any away just with the implementation of
connections in between resulting in laws postponing the date of elections.
them to disagree with it as an effect of Rather, they just view the law imposed
Republic Act 10952. as a way of addressing other issues
which may affect the efficient execution
Consider these five effects of of elections.
election postponement presented after
the Nigerian case of election All grounds considered,
postponement (Akangbe, n.d.): lower electorates agreed to every aspect
turn-out for the exercise, waste of studied concerning Republic Act No.
funds, little or no trust in the credibility 10952. Having interpreted their stand
of the elections, lesser international on the provisions of the Act, on the
coverage and more time for perceived effects of the Act, and on the
mischievous politicians to execute their overall stand on the Act - it can be
evil plans. It was similar to some of the reflected that the electorates are in
effects perceived by the electorates in favor of the election postponement
the study which proves that in such declared by the law.
situations of election delays there are
things that require attention too aside The researcher concludes that
from the causes of postponements, and suffrage is valued in ways depending
those are the effects it could cause to on how well one is knowledgeable
the voting public as a whole. The about it, on how one perceives it, and
results of this study therefore implies on how one understands its existence
that election postponement has effects in a country that is democratic and
perceivable by some but not by others, republican.
lawmakers or voters, authority or not,
perception varies. Recommendation
The researcher, having seen
As to the overall stand of the
how simply the electorates accept the
electorates on Republic Act 10952
laws declaring the simultaneous
The results revealed that 94% of election postponements, recommends
the electorates are in favor of the law, to the voting public concerned to be
cautious of their decisions. People may Acknowledgement
not be as aware as others in the issues
facing the Barangay and Sangguniang The researcher wishes to express
Kabataan, particularly to this matter of her sincerest appreciation to the
delays by the government; still, the following people who became part of
responsibility is within their hands to the completion of this research.
appeal for the reasons before the
implementations. To Ms. Kathleen Mae T. Galestre,
the research adviser, for the
Also, the researcher professional guidance she extended to
recommends the Congress, the make this study a reality;
Commission on Elections, together with
To Mrs. Madeilyn B. Estacio, Ph. D,
the Local Government Units to conduct
the research professor, for the time
seminars or distribute pamphlets to
spent to improve this study;
educate electorates about laws that are
vital to everyone’s right to suffrage and To Mr. and Mrs. Leopoldo C. Ginez,
such other laws they would impose parents, for the assistance and moral
beforehand so as to assure that they support, as well as for the love and
are well-oriented about the policies of concern they have shown which
the government. contributed to the realization of this
study;
And above all, to Almighty God,
who poured His heavenly blessings and
everlasting wisdom for the researcher
to be guided from the beginning up to
the end of the creation of this study.
To God be the glory.

The Researcher
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