MANILA, Philippines — The bills postponing the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and fixing the term of barangay and SK officials at five years have been approved by the Senate panel on local government.
In particular, the panel finished on Monday its considerations on Sen. Imee Marcos’ Senate Bill no. 2067 titled ‘Postponing the November 2026 BSKE.’
It also completed discussions on Sen. Chiz Escudero’s Senate Bill no. 2387 titled ‘Fixing the Term of Office of the Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan.’
SBN 2067 seeks to move the November 2, 2026 BSKE elections to October 2027 to ease voters’ financial burden like travelling costs amid high fuel prices.
Marcos also pointed out that the BSKE date coincides with All Souls’ Day.
READ: Comelec chief asks lawmakers to decide BSKE fate by September
Meanwhile, SBN 2387 aims to fix, and not just extend, the terms of barangay and SK officials from four to five years to allow for a more effective implementation of barangay projects.
Escudero noted that the bill’s approval may come before November 2, 2026.
The senator said: “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.”
During the hearing, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) National Coordinator Arwinie Serrano said that the five-year term may be implemented even if the November 2 election proceeds.
Serrano told the senators that several preparations have already been made for the upcoming November polls.
Even Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said that the agency had already spent P8 billion in preparation for the election.
Nevertheless, he said that several of the items procured, such as ballot boxes and the voting ballots, may be temporarily placed under safekeeping until the rescheduled BSKE.
Other expenses include procurements for voter registration, personnel services and overtime work, which may be incurred once again upon the rescheduling of the polls.
The panel’s approval will yield a committee report that will adopt the proposed measures, with changes in consideration to the points made by resource speakers in the hearing.
This report, upon the signing of the majority of its members, will then be presented to the plenary. /apl
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