Philippines Postpones Barangay, SK Elections to November 2028, Extends Terms to Five Years

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12326, fixing the term of barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members to five years, Malacañang announced on Friday, September 25. RA 12326, signed on Thursday, September 24, postpones the barangay and SK elections slated in November to the second Monday of November 2028, and every five years thereafter. Under RA 12326, barangay officials are limited to two consecutive terms while SK officials are limited to a single term. “Considering the extension of their terms by two years, incumbent elective barangay officials shall be regarded as having completed one term in their respective positions. Incumbent officials serving their last term in the same position in accordance with Section 1 hereof shall be ineligible to run for the same position in the November 2028 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections,” the law states. The last BSKE was held in November 2023, and was supposed to be held in November 2025 but Marcos enacted a law moving the date to November 2026. The House of Representatives and the Senate passed their versions of the bill setting a five-year term for barangay and SK officials earlier in September. – Rappler.com