Sen. Imee Marcos has filed a bill seeking to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to 2027, citing rising travel costs and a schedule that overlaps with All Souls’ Day.
In Senate Bill No. 2067 filed on April 22, Marcos proposed moving the village and youth polls to the first Monday of October 2027 instead of the first Monday of November 2026. She noted that the current schedule coincides with All Souls’ Day, when many Filipinos travel to their home provinces to visit departed loved ones.
Marcos said the overlap, combined with rising fuel costs linked to global tensions, could discourage voter turnout, particularly among those registered outside their place of residence.
“All Souls’ Day is important for Filipinos to pay their respects to the dead, but because of increasing travel expenses, it may discourage others to go home, let alone to vote,” she said.
The senator also raised concerns about the broader economic impact of higher oil prices, saying increased transportation costs could disproportionately affect low-income voters and marginalized sectors, potentially leading to disenfranchisement.
Despite underscoring the importance of grassroots elections, Marcos said postponement would give voters more time to transfer registration and update records, reducing the need for costly travel on election day.
She also cited the financial burden of conducting the polls, noting an estimated P16-billion budget from the Commission on Elections, excluding additional costs from agencies such as the Philippine National Police, the Department of Education, and local government units.
Marcos said deferring the elections could allow the government to redirect funds to more urgent priorities, including economic assistance, basic services, and crisis response.
She added that the delay would ensure continuity in barangay leadership, allowing local officials to remain focused on community concerns amid ongoing economic challenges.
“There is a compelling basis to anticipate that voter turnout will be significantly impaired due to the sharp escalation in fuel prices brought about by the ongoing oil crisis,” she said.
The BSKE was initially scheduled for Dec. 1, 2025 but was moved to November 2026 after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12232 in August 2025.
Under the law, the term of barangay officials was extended from three years to four years. Newly elected officials are set to assume office on Dec. 1, 2026, with subsequent elections to be held every four years.