PBBM to BSKE winners: Be honest, serve people well

EARLY TO VOTE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. fills out his ballot paper at a polling precinct at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac City, Ilocos Norte during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on Monday (Oct. 30, 2023) morning. Marcos said the election results are going to have an impact on the mid-term and the national elections as it is the barangay officials who could guarantee the delivery of votes and play an important role in the political landscape. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged the proclaimed winners of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections to be honest at all times and to serve their constituents well.

Marcos made the call as he congratulated the newly elected and re-elected BSK officials.

In a video message uploaded on his official Facebook page, Marcos acknowledged the BSK officials’ vital role in improving the lives of their constituents.

“Isang panibagong pagkakakataon na naman po ito upang makapag-serbisyo sa mga Pilipino at sa ating bayan ng buong puso, at higit pa sa abot ng ating kakayahan. Maging tapat po tayo sa lahat ng oras. Lagi po nating unahin ang kapakanan ng sambayanan sapagkat sila po ang dahilan kung bakit nais nating magsilbi sa bayan (This is a new opportunity to serve the Filipinos and our country with all our heart, and more than our abilities. Let’s be honest at all times. Let’s always put the welfare of the people first because they are the reason why we want to serve the country),” Marcos said.

“Sa ating pagkakaisa at kolektibong pagsisikap, tiyak na maisusulong natin ang ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ kung saan ang bawat barangay ay mapayapa, masaya, at maunlad; kung saan nananaig ang pagkakaisa, pagkakaunawaan, at kasaganaan; at kung saan ang bawat mamamayan ay taas-noo bilang mga Pilipino (With our unity and collective efforts, we will definitely be able to promote the ‘New Philippines’ where every barangay is peaceful, happy, and prosperous; where unity, understanding, and prosperity prevail; and where every citizen stands tall as Filipinos).”

The President expressed elation over the successful and peaceful conduct of the BSKE, thanking the registered Filipino voters who participated in the polls.

Based on Commission on Elections (Comelec) data, up for grabs in Monday’s polls were 42,007 positions each for village chair and youth chair and 294,007 each for village council members and youth council members.

The same data showed there were 67.8 million registered voters for the village polls and 23.2 million registered youth voters.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the BSKE went smoothly and was generally peaceful.

The commission has yet to determine the voter turnout but expects it to be 70 percent to 75 percent.