THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) considers Sen. Francis Escudero’s proposal to move the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to 2028 a term adjustment rather than a simple postponement of the polls.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said Congress has the sole authority to determine the term of barangay officials, including whether their tenure should be shortened or extended.
‘Only Congress has the power to determine the term of barangay officials. It may make the term longer or shorter, and it is also given the discretion to determine the reasons for doing so,’ Garcia told the BusinessMirror.
‘Because of this, Senator Escudero’s proposal appears to be a term adjustment-from the present four-year term to five years per term-rather than a postponement of the elections,’ he added.
Garcia said Comelec cannot interfere with Congress’ exercise of that authority.
Escudero filed Senate Bill 2387 seeking to increase the term of elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from four years to five years.
The measure would also move the next regular BSKE from November 2026 to the first Monday of November 2028, with elections to be held every five years thereafter.
Under its transitory provision, incumbent barangay
officials would be considered to have completed one term despite the proposed two-year extension of their tenure.
Officials currently serving their third consecutive term would be ineligible to seek the same position in the proposed November 2028 elections.
Escudero said the longer term would provide greater stability and continuity in barangay governance while giving officials more time to implement community development programs.
The bill’s explanatory note said extending terms could also reduce disruptions caused by frequent elections and allow local officials to focus more on public service instead of electoral cycles.