THE Senate Committee on Local Government has approved the bills postponing the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), fixing the officials’ term from four to five years.
Sen. Francis Escudero, who presided over the hearing on Monday, directed the committee secretariat to draft a report reflecting the amendments and resource persons’ inputs, which is expected to be completed this week for deliberation in the plenary.
”Subject to the amendments proposed by the parties which we shall consider — including the decoupling, the Comelec’s (Commission on Elections) points on appropriations and the election date, as well as the position of PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) and Namfrel (National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections) that elections proceed as scheduled with the five‑year term to begin thereafter — we shall reflect these in the committee report,” Escudero said.
Escudero filed Senate Bill 2387, which seeks to amend Republic Act 12232, or An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and for Other Purposes.
He said the measure aims to fix, and not just extend or postpone, the terms of barangay and SK officials from four to five years.
”The natural effect will, of course, be to postpone the upcoming election, but the subject matter of this bill is fixing the term, not just postponement,” Escudero said, noting that barangay governments, as the frontline of public service, need longer terms to sustain community development, disaster response, and peace and order programs without election disruptions.
Under the bill, the transition would count existing terms to ensure fairness, preventing incumbent officials from benefiting from a term extension.
It seeks to enable local leaders to focus on long-term community development, disaster response, and peace and order without the disruptions of frequent elections.
Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos filed Senate Bill 2067, which seeks to move the BSKE from November 2026 to October 2027 as it would fall on All Souls’ Day this year.
The BSKE is scheduled for Nov. 2.
The senator said moving the date to October 2027 would help relieve Filipino families from financial strain, especially since they would have to go to the provinces during election day.
She added that the postponement of the BSKE would give voters more time to transfer their registrations and update records.
Representatives from the Liga ng mga Barangay, Namfrel, the PPCRV and the National Youth Commission (NYC) expressed their strong support for the bill aimed at institutionalizing the five-year term and breaking the cycle of frequent postponement of barangay and SK polls.
NYC representative Eriven Nepomuceno said the measure is a “strategic progression to ensure that local officials have sufficient time to implement meaningful community programs and improve public service delivery.” Councilor Jose Maria Rodriguez, who represented the Liga ng mga Barangay, said they “respectfully manifest their position in favor of a consolidated measure fixing the term of office of elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan at five years and establishing a definite election schedule corresponding to that term.
