Philippines Senate Passes Bill Postponing 2026 Barangay, SK Elections

The Philippine Senate has approved a bill that will postpone the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to 2028. The bill, passed on final reading on Monday, September 14, with 13 affirmative votes and five negative votes, seeks to reset the elections to the second Monday of November 2028, and every five years thereafter. Authored by Senator Chiz Escudero, Senate Bill (SB) No. 2387 aims to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 12232, fixing the term of all elected barangay and SK officials from four to five years. It also establishes a two-term limit for barangay officials and a one-term limit for SK officials. Under the proposed law, incumbent SK officials would continue to serve in holdover capacities, with succession rules for chairmanships and mayoral appointments for councilors to fill vacancies. The terms of incumbent barangay officials would be extended by two years, effectively counting their current term as one completed term. Those serving their last or third consecutive term would become ineligible to run for the same post in the 2028 elections. Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who voted against the bill, argued that postponing the polls might violate voters' right to suffrage. He also suggested that fixing the terms of barangay officials could be done without amending the law and expressed hope for the elections to proceed in November 2026, with the new fixed term applied prospectively. The House of Representatives had previously approved its version of the bill, and it has since adopted the Senate's version. The measure now awaits President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s action, either to approve or veto it, or it may lapse into law if no action is taken within 30 days of receipt. The last BSKE was held in November 2023. The next elections were initially scheduled for November 2025 but were moved to November 2026 by a law enacted by President Marcos Jr. Election watchdogs, including the Legal Network for Truthful Election (LENTE) and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), have voiced opposition to the postponement. NAMFREL stated that the "long-term costs of delay outweigh the short-term savings," warning that repeated postponements lead to cumulative erosion of institutional stability, voter trust, and local accountability. They emphasized that a predictable electoral calendar fosters more durable public confidence and cooperation. Information source: Rappler Philippines