The Senate is set to determine this week whether the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for November 2026 will proceed as planned or face postponement, alongside proposals to extend the tenure of local officials from four to five years.
Senate President Win Gatchalian stated that lawmakers will deliberate on the election reset and the proposed term adjustment due to tight legislative timelines, pointing out that candidate filings are expected by the end of the month.
”We will discuss it this week. There should be a decision this week on whether the elections will push through because the filing of candidacies is at the end of the month,” Gatchalian said in a radio interview.
Gatchalian noted that deferring the BSKE could generate government savings by skipping an entire election cycle.
However, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia cautioned that around ₱8 billion of its ₱19-billion budget allocation has already been committed, warning that certain supplies could be left unused if polls are rescheduled.
Concerns were also raised regarding the five-year term proposal. Gatchalian acknowledged that extending tenure limits would delay the electorate’s ability to replace underperforming or frequently absent barangay officials.
With Congress heading into a recess on October 8 or 9, the chamber has limited time to pass any approved legislation through a bicameral conference committee, ratify it, and secure its official publication.
Two separate legislative measures are currently under consideration:
- Senate Bill No. 2387 (filed by Sen. Francis Escudero): Proposes permanent structural amendments to Republic Act No. 12232 to set five-year terms for barangay and SK officials rather than applying temporary extensions.
- Senate Bill No. 2067 (filed by Sen. Imee Marcos): Proposes shifting the election date from November 2026 to October 2027 to avoid overlapping with All Souls’ Day.
Despite initial committee approval for the bills in August, watchdog groups including the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) have urged Congress to proceed with the scheduled November polls, citing ongoing poll preparations, economic factors, and logistical costs.