President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12326 on September 24, officially fixing the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials at five years and postponing the local village elections originally scheduled for November 2.
The signing of the law, enacted three days prior to the planned start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC), grants incumbent officials elected in 2023 an additional two years in office, shifting the next barangay and SK elections to the second Monday of November 2028. Subsequent elections will occur every five years thereafter.
Under RA 12326, the two-year term extension means incumbent local leaders are legally considered to have completed one full term in their positions. Those currently serving their final consecutive term in the same role will be ineligible to run for that same seat in November 2028.
Addressing local officials following the enactment, President Marcos emphasized that the extension carries greater administrative responsibility to deliver community results.
“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 wrote on social media.
“Hindi ito dagdag na panahon sa puwesto. Dagdag itong panahon ng pananagutan sa taumbayan,” the President added.
The law also outlines protocols for filling local vacancies: municipal or city mayors will make appointments for vacant SK council seats, while vacancies in the SK chairperson position will be filled through statutory succession.
To ensure long-term administrative efficiency, RA 12326 mandates the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), state universities and colleges, and other state agencies, to establish institutionalized training programs for barangay and youth leaders.
Additionally, unused funds originally allocated for the 2026 local elections will remain accessible to COMELEC as a continuing appropriation to support preparation activities for the 2028 National and Local Elections.