PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. and members of the First Family are set to lead the country today in the first Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to be held under his term as president.
The Marcoses, including Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III, are expected to cast their vote at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Valdez in Batac City in Ilocos Norte.
Also expected to cast their votes in Batac are presidential sisters, Sen. Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta.
The President has declared October 30, 2023, as a special non-working day throughout the country, stressing that “it is imperative that the people be given the full opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right of suffrage.”
Last Friday, Malacañang issued a memorandum circular (MC) allowing a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement for government employees and asynchronous classes for public schools on October 31.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, by authority of the President, signed MC 38, which states that the WFH and asynchronous classes arrangements to give government employees and students “full opportunity to properly observe All Saints’ Day on 1 November 2023 and allow them to travel to and from the different regions in the country.”
November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and 2 (All Souls’ Day) are non-working holidays.
Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez called for an orderly and peaceful conduct of the barangay and youth polls as he urged all candidates to refrain from violence and embrace the true spirit of democracy.
“Our barangays serve as the foundation of our nation’s governance. It is crucial that these elections take place in an atmosphere of tranquility and respect for the rule of law,” the Speaker said in a statement.
“We implore all candidates and their supporters to act with civility, restraint, and respect for one another. The true strength of our democracy lies in our ability to peacefully choose our local leaders,” he said.
Romualdez said every eligible voter should have the opportunity to cast their ballot “without fear of intimidation or violence” as he stressed that the security of the electoral process is essential “to prevent any undue influence, manipulation, or discrimination.”
“When voters can cast their ballots without fear of intimidation or violence, it upholds the very essence of democracy — the idea that every citizen’s voice is valued, and every vote is equal. This level playing field is the cornerstone of a just and representative democracy,” he said.
NO WORK, NO PAY
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Sunday said employees who will opt to cast their votes instead of reporting for work will not be entitled to any pay.
Based on Labor Advisory No. 24 – 2023, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply during the special non-working day today.
“If the employee did not work, the ‘no work, no pay’ principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day,” said Laguesma.
For work done during the special non-working day, he said employees shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her basic wage on the first eight hours of work, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on the said day for overtime work.
If an employee works on a special non-working day that also falls on a rest day, the employer shall pay an additional 50 percent of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work, and an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate on the said day.
To recall, Proclamation No. 359 – 2023 declared October 30 as a special non-working day in line with the holding of the BSKE. — With Wendell Vigilia and Gerard Naval