The House of Representatives on Monday adopted House Concurrent Resolution 20 resetting the date of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 13 midterm elections to Oct. 11 to 17, 2018.
The resolution, authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is intended to allow lawmakers to focus on their legislative work.
The start of the filing of the certificates as scheduled by the Commission on Elections on Oct. 1 to 5 will be held while Congress is still in session.
Congress will adjourn session beginning Oct. 12 to give way for the filing of the certificates.
Arroyo’s resolution “[urges] the Commission on Elections to reset to October 11 to 17, 2018 from October 1 to 5, 2018 the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy in connection with the May 13, 2019 national and local elections.”
The reason for the postponement: “to enable the Members of Congress to fully attend to their legislative duties and meet the deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the 2019 national and local elections.”
Arroyo said, “the House of Representatives is currently deliberating on the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, and other priority measures that require their utmost and undivided attention.”
The House will transmit the resolution to the Senate for action.
The House is expected to pass the 2019 national budget bill on third and final reading before Congress adjourns on Oct. 12, along with several other priority bills.
Before the measure’s adoption, Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu said the House would continue to perform its legislative functions even if many lawmakers would file their certificates of candidacy and prepare for the midterms elections next year.
Abu made the statement following the Comelec’s announcement of the filing of certificates of candidacy for senator, member of the House of Representatives, provincial, city, municipal or Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional official from Oct. 1 to 5.