House extends terms of barangay, SK officials

MANILA, Philippines — Voting 153-4 with one abstention, officials and members of the House of Representatives have approved on third and final reading a proposed measure extending the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from three to six years.

House Bill (HB) 11287 was approved in the plenary late Monday, when sessions of the bicameral Congress resumed after a four-month break to give way to the campaign period for the May 12 elections.

The bill was approved on second reading in January, also after the 2024 Christmas break.

HB 11287, authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez, seeks to give elected barangay and SK officials two- and one-term limits, respectively, with elections to be held every six years, on the second Monday of May, starting in 2029.

The measure provides that incumbent barangay and SK officials elected (BSKE) in October 2023 shall remain in office until the next elections on May 2029, unless sooner removed or suspended for a cause.

A Supreme Court ruling has declared such a protracted term extension for BSK officials to be unconstitutional.

The measure, whose co-authors include President Marcos’ son Rep. Sandro Marcos of the first district of Ilocos Norte, is a set of proposals aiming to amend Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

Section 42 of the LGC was amended to hold the next BSKE on the second Monday of May 2029, with village officials serving a six-year term instead of the usual three years.

Romualdez said the term extension was intended to ensure continuity of projects to prevent barangay officials from politicking.

BSKE preparations to continue

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said preparations for the holding of the BSKE in December would continue despite the passage of HB 11287.

“We don’t allow developments like this in Congress to affect our preparations for the BSKE,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

Garcia said the Comelec has started the process for the procurement of election materials that will be used for the BSKE.

The Comelec said the voter registration scheduled from July 1 to July 11 would proceed even if the BSKE is postponed or not.

Garcia said it might cause heavier damage if the poll body hesitates or waits for any development before acting on the matter.

He said that even if the elections would be postponed, the budget would remain intact as long as the contract is not yet awarded to the winning bidder.

A budget of P11 billion has been allotted for the conduct of the BSKE.

The Comelec said the ballot printing has not started yet.

Garcia said he would prefer the BSKE to be held next year as the Comelec is conducting the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region  in Muslim Mindanao in October. — Mayen Jaymalin