Philippine Senate approves bill to extend barangay official terms

The Philippine Senate has approved Senate Bill No. 2387 on its third and final reading, a measure that proposes extending the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from four to five years. The bill also seeks to reschedule the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from the first Monday of November 2026 to the first Monday of November 2028, with subsequent elections occurring every five years.

Under the proposed law, incumbent officials would be credited with completing one term due to the two-year extension. However, those currently serving their third consecutive term would be ineligible to run in the November 2028 elections. The bill passed with a 13-5 vote, with opposition from senators including Vicente Sotto III, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Aquino IV, Kiko Pangilinan, and Joel Villanueva.

Proponents, such as Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, suggest that extending terms could reduce government costs associated with election cycles. Conversely, critics and election watchdogs have raised concerns regarding the financial implications, noting that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has already utilized approximately P8 billion of its P19-billion BSKE budget. Additionally, concerns have been raised that postponing polls prevents voters from replacing ineffective local leaders.