Congress eyes another BSKE delay as lawmakers push polls to 2028

National

CONGRESS is once again weighing changes to the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), with lawmakers proposing a two-year postponement of the November polls and a longer five-year term for local officials.

The proposals come a year after the 2025 BSKE was postponed, with new measures filed in both chambers seeking to move the elections to 2028.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero filed Senate Bill No. 2387, which seeks to amend Republic Act 12232, the law that sets a four-year term for barangay officials and SK members.

Under the measure, elected barangay and SK officials would serve five-year terms while retaining existing limits on consecutive service. Barangay officials would remain prohibited from serving more than three consecutive terms in the same position, while SK officials would continue to be limited to one term.

Escudero said extending the term of office would give local officials more time to carry out community programs and improve public service delivery.

“Barangay governments, as the frontline public service arm of the government, play critical roles in implementing government programs, maintaining peace and order, resolving disputes, responding to disasters and calamities, and delivering basic services at the community level,” Escudero said in the bill’s explanatory note, as quoted by Philstar.

The senator also argued that holding elections frequently could disrupt long-term community projects, as local officials may have to shift attention toward electoral preparations and concerns.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives filed a separate measure seeking to postpone the Nov. 2 barangay and SK elections until 2028.

Around 60 lawmakers backed the proposal, citing what they described as an “energy emergency.” They pointed to the continued US-Iran war in the Middle East, which they said had contributed to higher fuel prices and made the cost of holding elections every three years more burdensome.

The lawmakers said elections may be deferred during public emergencies, arguing that their proposal addresses conditions that could affect whether the polls can be conducted safely and whether the results would be credible.

They also warned that holding the elections without sufficient and properly calibrated funding could disrupt procurement, limit logistical coverage, delay the delivery of election materials, and affect the compensation and support needed by Electoral Boards.

The Commission on Elections said it is prepared to conduct the barangay and SK elections on Nov. 2.(MyTVCebu)