A Senate committee approved legislative measures seeking to adjust the tenure of local community leaders and postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) set for November 2026.
During a hearing led by the Senate Committee on Local Government, panel chair Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero greenlit Senate Bill No. 2387, which aims to extend the term length of barangay and SK leaders from four to five years to foster stability in community governance.
While the bill inherently delays the upcoming polls, Escudero clarified that fixing the official term limit is the primary objective of the proposal.
He added that the institutionalization of a five-year term aims to break the cycle of frequent congressional postponements and stop local polls from overlapping with national election schedules, though the final decision on deferment will still undergo plenary debate.
To address potential concerns regarding tenure, the proposed legislation includes a transition provision counting terms already served to prevent claims of unearned extensions for incumbent officials.
The structural shift is designed to allow local officers to focus on long-term initiatives, including local development, emergency response, and community safety, without frequent electoral disruptions.
Responding to the panel’s action, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia acknowledged the exclusive authority of Congress to determine term limits.
“Yung aming patuloy na pakiusap [sa mga mambabatas], itong buwan ng September, kahit ikalawang linggo man lang, maging maliwanag na ‘yung sagot sa katanungan kung tuloy o hindi ang BSKE,” Garcia noted during an interview.
In a separate move, Senator Imee Marcos submitted a proposal seeking to shift the November 2026 BSKE to October 2027, highlighting that the current date conflicts with All Souls’ Day observances.
“Yes! Di na tuloy ang BSKE sa November,” Marcos posted on her social media page.
Marcos emphasized that postponing the election would alleviate travel costs for voters facing high fuel prices, prevent travel disruptions during a holiday period, and give citizens additional time to update or transfer their registration records.