MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law a measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for Nov. 2 and extending the terms of incumbent barangay and SK officials to five years.
Republic Act No. 12326, or the Act Fixing the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan to Five Years, sets the next BSKE on the second Monday of November 2028 and every five years thereafter.
The law gives officials elected in 2023 an additional two years in office.
In a social media post Friday, Marcos said incumbent officials should use the extended terms to improve public services, complete ongoing programs and address the needs of their communities.
“Sa paglagda natin sa Republic Act No. 12326 na nagtatakda ng limang taong termino para sa mga opisyal ng barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan, malinaw ang ating inaasahan sa ating mga kasalukuyang opisyal,” Marcos said.
He added, “Hindi ito dagdag na panahon sa puwesto. Dagdag itong panahon ng pananagutan sa taumbayan.”
The law considers incumbent elective barangay officials to have completed one term despite the two-year extension. It also bars officials serving their final term from seeking the same positions in the November 2028 elections.
The law provides that a vacancy in the Sangguniang Kabataan will be filled through appointment from the city or municipal mayor, while a vacancy in the SK chairperson position will follow the succession process provided under existing law.
It also directs the Department of the Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Elections, state universities and colleges, and other government agencies, to establish training and capacity-building programs for SK officials and members.
The law states that an incumbent official remains subject to pending and future administrative, civil or criminal investigations and liabilities.
Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, principal author of Senate Bill No. 2387, which sought to extend the terms of SK officials to five years, thanked Marcos for signing the measure.
Escudero said the law would establish a clearer cycle for barangay governance.
“Bilang pangunahing may-akda ng nasabing panukala sa Senado, malinaw sa atin na ang layunin ng batas na ito ay ayusin ang sistema at tiyakin na may malinaw na ikot o siklo sa pamamahala sa barangay,” Escudero said.
He also thanked senators and House members for supporting the measure.
“Sa kanilang tulong, napagtibay natin ang isang batas na magbibigay ng mas matatag, mas episyente, at mas makatarungang pamamahala sa ating mga barangay,” Escudero said.
