MANILA, Philippines — Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials could soon be looking at a longer term in office after the House Committee on Local Government approved in principle measures seeking to set their terms at five years instead of the current four.
The House panel approved the proposals on August 25, 2026, and agreed to consolidate several bills into a substitute measure. The proposal would also set the next regular Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) for the second Monday of November 2028, with succeeding elections to follow a five-year cycle.
But there is an important catch: the proposal is not yet a law. It still has to go through the remaining stages of the legislative process before it can take effect.
Why lawmakers want a longer term
Supporters of the proposal argue that barangay officials need more time to implement programs and deliver services without being repeatedly disrupted by election preparations and postponements.
House Local Government Committee Chair Florencio Miraflores said a longer term could provide greater continuity and stability in grassroots governance, while emphasizing the need to strike a balance that strengthens local government rather than weakening it.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is separately pushing Senate Bill No. 2387, which seeks to institutionalize a five-year term for barangay and SK officials. Escudero has stressed that his proposal is intended to “fix” the term rather than simply extend the tenure of incumbent officials.
Under Escudero’s Senate proposal, existing term-limit rules would remain: barangay officials could serve a maximum of three consecutive terms, while SK officials would remain limited to one term in the same position. Officials already serving their third consecutive barangay term would not be eligible to seek the same position in the proposed 2028 elections.
What happens to the 2026 barangay elections?
This is where the issue becomes more complicated.
The 2026 BSKE is currently scheduled for November 2, 2026. However, lawmakers in both chambers are considering proposals that could move the elections.
In the Senate, Senator Imee Marcos’ Senate Bill No. 2067 seeks to move the November 2026 BSKE to October 2027, citing factors including travel costs and the fact that the scheduled election date falls around All Souls’ Day. The Senate local government panel has advanced both the postponement measure and Escudero’s five-year-term proposal.
Meanwhile, the House measure approved in principle points toward holding the next regular BSKE in November 2028 as part of the transition to the proposed five-year election cycle.
That means the final election schedule could still change depending on what Congress ultimately approves and what is enacted into law.
Comelec already has billions invested in the 2026 polls
The proposed changes also come with a major logistical and financial consideration.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia told senators that the poll body had already spent about ₱8 billion preparing for the 2026 BSKE.
Some election materials, including ballot boxes and ballots, could potentially be stored until the elections are held. However, other expenses—including voter registration, personnel services and overtime—could have to be incurred again if the elections are postponed.
Comelec has also pointed to the nationwide scale of barangay and SK elections. Despite being local elections, preparations and logistics have to be carried out across the country. BusinessMirror reported that Comelec sees a possible benefit in a five-year cycle because it could reduce the recurring situation in which barangay and SK elections overlap with other major elections, prompting calls for postponement.
Several groups support the five-year proposal
The proposal has received support from several organizations during Senate hearings, including the Liga ng mga Barangay, National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and National Youth Commission (NYC).
Supporters say a longer, fixed term could give local officials more time to implement community-development programs, disaster-response initiatives, peace-and-order programs and other frontline services.
However, some election advocates have raised the possibility that the 2026 elections could still proceed as scheduled, with the five-year term taking effect afterward. PPCRV and NAMFREL have reportedly expressed this position during discussions.
What Filipinos should watch next
For now, barangay and SK officials do not automatically receive a five-year term simply because the House committee approved the proposal.
The measure must still move through the legislative process, and the House and Senate proposals will have to be reconciled if their provisions differ. The final election date, transition rules and effect on incumbent officials will ultimately depend on the legislation Congress passes and whether it becomes law.
The biggest question now is no longer simply whether lawmakers want a five-year term.
The question is whether the proposed changes will take effect before the November 2, 2026 BSKE—and whether Filipinos will actually go to the polls this year.
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