Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged Congress to decide within the week on the proposed five-year fixed term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to determine if the November elections will proceed.
In a radio interview on Sunday, Gatchalian emphasized the need for clarity before the filing of certificates of candidacy in the last week of September. Once candidates file, he noted, the elections will be locked in.
If approved, the measure must pass a bicameral conference committee and gain ratification before Congress goes on break on October 10. While the House passed its version on second reading, the bill remains pending at the same stage in the Senate.
Gatchalian highlighted both sides of the issue. A postponement would save the Commission on Elections at least P19 billion, but extending terms to five years risks keeping incompetent officials in power longer and causing SK leaders to exceed the 18-to-24 age limit while in office.
Subcommittee chairman Senator Francis Escudero also called on lawmakers to act promptly, noting that fixing the term aims to establish long-term stability in grassroots governance rather than merely delaying the polls.