Politics · Philippines Bureau
Marcos signs law postponing barangay elections to next year
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed legislation delaying the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections originally scheduled for November 2. The measure extends the terms of sitting village officials by one year under the new Republic Act No. 12326.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formalized the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) by signing Republic Act No. 12326 into law, effectively deferring the nationwide vote originally set for November 2 this year.
The legislation extends the terms of incumbent barangay captains and sangguniang kabataan officials by one additional year, allowing them to remain in office beyond their current mandates. The new law provides the legal framework for the delay, which had been subject to legislative deliberation in recent weeks.
The postponement marks a significant shift in the country's electoral calendar. The BSKE determines leadership at the grassroots level, with elected officials serving as the frontline representatives of the government in thousands of barangays nationwide.
The move had faced scrutiny from various stakeholders, including election observers and civil society groups who raised concerns about extending officials' tenures. However, proponents argued that the postponement would allow for better preparation and planning for the electoral exercise.
The law now sets the stage for the delayed elections to be conducted at a date to be determined by the Commission on Elections in coordination with relevant government agencies.