Marcos signs law postponing BSKE, extending terms to 5 years

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a bill postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and extending the term of current barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) officials to five years. In a Facebook post, Marcos said, "Sa paglagda natin sa Republic Act No, 12326, na nagtatakda ng limang taong termino para sa mga opisyal ng barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan, malinaw ang ating inaasahan sa ating mga kasalukuyang opisyal. Gamitin ang panahong ito upang mas pagbutihin ang serbisyo, tapusin ang mga nasimulang programa at mas tutukan ang pangangailangan ng bawat komunidad, pamilya at kabataan." (With the signing of Republic Act No. 12326, which establishes a five-year term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, our expectations for our current officials are clear: use this time to further improve service delivery, complete programs that have already been initiated, and focus more intently on the needs of every community, family, and the youth.) "Hindi ito dagdag na panahon sa puwesto. Dagdag itong panahon ng pananagutan sa taumbayan," he added. (This is not an additional period in office. This is an additional period of responsibility to the people.) Congress had passed a measure postponing the upcoming BSKE and extending the term of officials to five years and transmitted it to the Palace on Thursday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro also confirmed the signing of the bill in a press briefing on Friday. "Pinirmahan na po ng Pangulo," Castro said when asked in a media briefing in Ilocos Norte. (The President has signed it.) Castro said that both the President and lawmakers were able to see why barangay officials were so important, including fighting criminality and maintaining cleanliness of the streets. She also reasoned that longer terms allowed officials to implement long-term projects. The new measure is not there so that these officials could be lazy. "Ito ay para sila magtrabaho. Kaya para sa mga barangay officials, ang kailangan po namin ay trabaho mula sa inyo," Castro said. (This is so that they would work. So for barangay officials, we need you to work.) —VAL, GMA News