The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to extend the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from four years to five years. House Bill (HB) No. 10971 passed the chamber with a decisive vote of 211 in favor, 11 opposed, and one abstention.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 12232, titled “An Act setting the term of office of barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and for other purposes.”
If fully enacted into law, the measure will postpone the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) originally scheduled for November 2, 2026 to November 2028. Elections would then take place every five years thereafter.
Proponents of HB 10971 argued that shifting to a five-year term provides local leaders with the necessary stability to carry out long-term community development projects without frequent electoral disruptions. Extending the tenure allows officials to focus on public service and complete essential neighborhood programs that often get interrupted by early campaign cycles.
Under the provisions of the bill, incumbent barangay and SK officials will serve an additional two years to complete a full five-year term. The measure retains existing term limits, maintaining a three-term cap for barangay officials and a single-term limit for SK youth representatives. Consequently, incumbents currently serving their third consecutive term will be ineligible to run for the same office in the rescheduled 2028 elections.
The legislative decision comes while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) continues its administrative preparations for the November 2026 polls, pending further Senate proceedings and potential presidential approval.