The Commission on Elections urged Congress to decide before the filing of candidacies begins on September 28 whether the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections will proceed as scheduled in November.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Wednesday, Aug. 26, that an early decision would give the poll body and prospective candidates clarity as lawmakers consider proposals to postpone the elections and extend the terms of barangay and youth officials.
“Kaya po dapat bago po mag-filing, maging maliwanag kung may eleksyon ba o wala,” Garcia said in an interview with dzMM. (“That is why, before the filing, it should be clear whether there will be an election or not.”)
Certificates of candidacy for barangay and SK posts are scheduled to be filed from September 28 to Octcober 5.
Under the current law, the BSKE is scheduled for November 2.
Postponement, five-year term proposals
Lawmakers are considering proposals that could change both the election date and the terms of barangay and SK officials.
Senate Bill 2067, filed by Sen. Imee Marcos, proposes moving the November 2026 BSKE to October 2027.
A separate measure, Senate Bill 2387 by Sen. Chiz Escudero, seeks to establish a fixed five-year term for barangay and SK officials.
The Senate committee handling the measures has since advanced a proposal that would move the upcoming BSKE to November 2028 and hold succeeding elections every five years.
Garcia has said a five-year term could instead be applied to officials elected in November, allowing the scheduled 2026 elections to proceed.
P8 billion already spent
Despite the pending proposals, Garcia said Comelec continues preparing for the November 2 elections because that remains the schedule under existing law.
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po kami sapagkat ang batas sa kasalukuyan, may eleksyon tayo sa November 2,” Garcia said. (“We are continuing because, under the law as it stands, we have an election on Nov. 2.”)
Comelec has already spent about P8 billion of the P19.57-billion budget for the elections, including for ballot printing, 40,000 ballot boxes, pens and indelible ink.
Garcia said the materials could be stored and used for a later election if this year’s polls are postponed.