By Ellson Quismorio
The House Committee on Local Government has approved in principle measures seeking to extend the terms of office of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from three to five years.
Committee chair Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores said House Bills 1125, 10656, 10713, 10714, and 10924 will be consolidated into a substitute bill reflecting agreements reached during Tuesday’s hearing.
The measure sets the next Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) on the second Monday of November 2028 and outlines applicable term limit provisions.
Miraflores stressed that the longer tenure aims to strengthen grassroots governance by giving officials more time to implement programs.
“Our task, therefore, is to find the right balance and establish a term that will ultimately strengthen, rather than weaken, grassroots governance,” he said.
Sorsogon Rep. Marie Bernadette Escudero, author of HB 10656, noted that aligning the five‑year term with the barangay’s comprehensive development plan would allow officials to translate long‑term strategies into concrete programs.
Liga ng mga Barangay President Maria Katrina Jessica Dy added that over 70 percent of barangays operate on annual budgets of ₱5 million or less, limiting them to short‑term projects.
A longer term, she said, would enable officials to pursue higher‑impact initiatives and ensure stability in local governance, especially during calamities.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reiterated its readiness to conduct the scheduled BSKE on Nov. 2, 2026.
Deputy Executive Director Rafael Olaño said preparations—including the printing of ballots and procurement of supplies—were complete.
He clarified, however, that Comelec would abide by any law Congress passes to reset the polls, noting that printed ballots could still be used in the succeeding elections.
