Muslim solons representing congressional districts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) want a two-year deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, saying that savings from resetting the political exercise may be earmarked for funding peace efforts in the South.

Led by Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong, Muslim lawmakers batted for the passage of House Bill 1084 which would reset the October 25 barangay and SK elections to June, 2012.

Reps. Jim Hataman-Salliman of Basilan, Nur-ana Sahidula of Sulu, Bai Sandra A. Sema of Maguindanao, and Pangalian Balindong of Lanao del Sur backed the bill as co-authors.

“It would be unhealthy for democracy and for the coffers of the government to hold three elections in only 14 months,” said Loong.

Loong noted that after the May 10 elections, the country will have barangay and SK polls in October, 2010, and ARMM elections in August, 2011.

“Although an election is a good exercise, it must be within a reasonable interval in order to allow the nation to recover from its inevitable divisive effect and economic drawback, especially in the ARMM,” he said.

The six ARMM solons stressed that holding elections is “too expensive.”

“There is a need to postpone the barangay and SK elections in the ARMM in order to utilize the allotted amount to finance the implementation of projects that would address poverty alleviation and the Mindanao rebellion problem,” the lawmakers said.

Loong also pointed out that having been created by a special law, ARMM should have elections that are distinct from the national, local and barangay polls.

“With one year gap between our proposed date for the synchronized barangay and SK, elections in ARMM and the 2013 national local elections, the Comelec will have ample time to plan and prepare for the latter election,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga disclosed that Malacanang’s proposal to abolish SK has received no backing from congressmen.

Barzaga, chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said the committee has not yet received any bill backing President Aquino’s wishes to do away with the SK, a barangay-based youth organization that has been drawing flak for charges of graft against some of its leaders.

The senior solon noted that during a committee hearing on bills proposing deferment of the Oct. 25 barangay and SK elections, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo advised the House panel to pass the measure on the first week of September.

He said that that since there is still no bill filed for the abolition of SK, the House panel finds the time frame given by Comelec restrictive.

According to Barzaga, in the past Congress two bills proposing SK abolition were rejected by congressmen who believe that the better option is to institute reforms in the youth organization.

However, Barzaga disclosed that there appears to be solid backing to proposals to cancel the Oct. 25 poll exercise, with at least 73 percent of solons polled behind the move.

There are at least 22 bills and three resolutions pushing for the postponement of barangay and SK elections. These measures will be consolidated in the next hearing.

“We hope to vote on the bill on the first week of September,” said Barzaga.