Politics · Philippines Bureau
Senate passes bill extending barangay, SK officials' terms to five years
The Philippine Senate has approved legislation that would extend the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years, effectively postponing this year's village and youth council elections until 2028.
LSN Philippines ·
The Senate on Monday gave its final approval to Senate Bill No. 2387, which seeks to realign the election schedules for local government officials at the barangay and youth levels. Thirteen senators voted in favor of the measure, which moves the scheduled Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) from 2025 to 2028.
Under the approved bill, barangay captains, barangay council members, and SK officials will serve extended five-year terms instead of the current three-year period. The measure aims to synchronize local elections with the national midterm elections, according to proponents of the legislation.
The move comes after the Commission on Elections had set this year for the conduct of barangay and SK elections. However, the postponement has drawn criticism from election law experts, with some questioning the constitutionality and necessity of further delaying these local-level elections.
The bill now faces the next stage of the legislative process as it awaits consideration by the House of Representatives before proceeding to the Office of the President for signature into law.