3 lawmakers back measure postponing BSKE anew

MANILA, Philippines — Three members of the House of Representatives have expressed support for a measure seeking to defer anew the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) scheduled in December 2025.

House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre and Reps. Faustino Dy V and Ernesto Dionisio Jr. backed House Bill 10344, which proposes the holding of the BSKE in October 2026, or a year and a half after the 2025 midterm elections.

“It would be unfair to limit or reduce the three years for which these officials are elected, and who are entitled to a term of three years,” Acidre of party-list Tingog said of the proposal authored by Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte.

“Any candidate planned to serve for three years, not two,” he added, referring to the current set-up wherein barangay and youth leaders elected in October 2023 have only two years to serve as ruled by the Supreme Court (SC).

The high tribunal invalidated Republic Act 11935, which postponed the 2022 BSKE to October 2023, effectively giving the incumbent officials a one-year extension of their term. The SC declared such prolonged postponements unconstitutional.

“I was also a former barangay captain and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay. I will definitely support this bill. I also filed a similar measure,” Dy, who represents the sixth district of Isabela, said.

Dionisio, who represents the first district of Manila, lamented that regular recurrence of campaigns and elections hamper good governance. He said local officials often engage in politicking instead of performing their mandate.

“That is the sad reality of politics, not just in the national level, but also in the local, especially in the barangay level. There is always a campaign. There is always mudslinging. That is the sad reality of having to serve for a short term only in any position,” he said.

The last barangay and SK elections were held in October 2023. Those elected have only until the end of 2025 to serve, as ruled by the SC.

The measure, if enacted into law, will allow the holding of the BSKE “every three years thereafter, in compliance with the provisions of both the Constitution and the Local Government Code of 1991 on the fixed three-year term of local officials.”

Villafuerte said conducting the next barangay elections in December 2025 would mean shorter term for those elected in 2023.

The SC ruled that a shortened term cannot be used as an excuse for postponing the BSKE.