MANILA, Philippines — The Senate local government committee has approved a bill seeking to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for this November and another one setting a fixed five-year term for barangay and SK officials.
The committee on Monday finished deliberating on Sen. Imee Marcos’ Senate Bill No. 2067, “Postponing the November 2026 BSKE,” and Sen. Francis Escudero’s Senate Bill No. 2387, “Fixing the Term of Office of the Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan.”
The panel is expected to come up with a report adopting the proposed measures, and once signed by the majority of panel members, it would then be presented to the plenary.
READ: Comelec postpones delivery of BSKE supplies, paraphernalia
The first bill seeks to move the BSKE set on Nov. 2 this year to October 2027 to ease the financial burden of voters who need to go home to their provinces to vote amid rising fuel prices. Marcos also pointed out that the BSKE coincides with All Souls’ Day.
On the other hand, the bill filed by Escudero aims to set a fixed term of five years, up from the current four, for barangay and SK officials to pave the way for the more effective implementation of their projects.
READ: Escudero bill on 5-year barangay, SK terms draws support
Noting that the bill’s approval may come before this year’s scheduled BSKE, Escudero said: “The natural effect will be, of course, to postpone the upcoming election, but the subject matter of this bill is fixing the term, not just postponement.”
Concerns raised
During the hearing, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting national coordinator Arwinie Serrano noted that the five-year term may be implemented even if the Nov. 2 election is held, saying that several preparations have already been made for the conduct of the BSKE.
Even Commission on Elections Chair George Garcia noted that the poll body has already spent P8 billion preparing for the BSKE, although some of the procured items, such as ballot boxes and voting ballots, may be temporarily placed under safekeeping until the actual elections.
Other expenses, including voter registration, personnel services and overtime work, may be incurred once again upon the rescheduling of the polls. /cb
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