Marcos signs BSKE postponement into law ~ HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS

Friday, September 25, 2026

Marcos signs BSKE postponement into law

Friday, September 25, 2026 Herbert Curia - Promoter No comments

From the Website of INQUIRER
links https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2311546/marcos-signs-into-law-bske-postponement

Marcos signs BSKE postponement into law

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure

postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for Nov. 2 and extending the term of incumbent officials to five years.

Known as Republic Act No. 12326, or the Act Fixing the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan to Five Years, the law sets the next BSKE for the second Monday of November 2028 and every five years thereafter, giving officials elected in 2023 an additional two-year term.

In a social media post on Friday, Marcos said he would expect incumbent officials to maximize the additional time to further improve public service.

“Sa paglagda natin sa Republic Act No. 12326 na nagtatakda ng limang taong termino para sa mga opisyal ng barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan, malinaw ang ating inaasahan sa ating mga kasalukuyang opisyal. Gamitin ang panahong ito upang mas pagbutihin ang serbisyo, tapusin ang mga nasimulang programa at mas tutukan ang pangangailangan ng bawat komunidad, pamilya at kabataan,” Marcos said.

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(With the signing of Republic Act No. 12326, which sets a five-year term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, our expectations for our current officials are clear. Use this time to further improve public service, complete programs that have already been started, and focus more closely on the needs of every community, family, and young person.)

“Hindi ito dagdag na panahon sa puwesto. Dagdag itong panahon ng pananagutan sa taumbayan,” he also said.

(This is not additional time in office. It is additional time for accountability to the people.)

Based on a copy of the law posted on the Official Gazette, incumbent elective barangay officials shall be considered to have completed one term in their respective positions, given the two-year extension of their terms.

“Incumbent officials serving their last term in the same position in accordance with Section 1 hereof shall be ineligible to run for the same position in the November 2028 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections,” the law signed on Thursday read.

A vacancy in the Sangguniang Kabataan shall be filled by appointment by the city or municipal mayor, while a vacancy in the SK chairperson position shall be filled through succession as provided by law.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Elections, state universities and colleges, and other appropriate government agencies, shall also institutionalize training and capacity-building programs for the officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan.

Additionally, the law noted that being an incumbent official does not protect them from pending and future investigations concerning administrative, civil, or criminal cases or liabilities against them.

In a statement, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero thanked Marcos for signing the law, which he said would provide certainty and stability in governance—essential given that barangays serve as the government’s front line in delivering public services.

“Bilang pangunahing may-akada ng nasabing panukala sa Senado, malinaw sa atin na ang layunin ng batas na ito ay ayusin ang sistema at tiyakin na may malinaw na ikot o siklo sa pamamahala sa barangay. Kapag maayos ang termino, maayos din ang serbisyo,” Escudero said.

(As the principal author of the proposed measure in the Senate, it is clear to us that the purpose of this law is to improve the system and ensure a clear and orderly cycle of governance at the barangay level. When terms of office are properly structured, the delivery of public services also becomes more effective.)

Escudero, the author of Senate Bill No. 2387, which extends the term of office of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years, also thanked his fellow senators and members of the House of Representatives for their support and cooperation in passing the law.

“Sa kanilang tulong, napagtibay natin ang isang batas na magbibigay ng mas matatag, mas episyente, at mas makatarungang pamamahala sa ating mga barangay,” he said.

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(With their support, we were able to enact a law that will provide more stable, efficient, and equitable governance in our barangays.) /mr /atm