Escudero seeks to extend brgy, SK officials' term to 5 years, reset polls to 2028

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday filed a bill seeking to extend the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years and reset the elections to November 2028.

Senate Bill 2387 seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 12232 or "An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and for Other Purposes."

In his explanatory note, Escudero said the proposed measure seeks to enhance the stability and consistency of public service at the barangay level by providing for a five-year term for barangay officials and members of Sangguniang Kabataan.

"Such intervention would promote continuity in governance, provide sufficient time for community development initiatives, reduce disruptions caused by frequent electoral exercises, and enable local officials to focus on public service rather than on electoral cycles," he said.

Under the bill, the next regular BSKE elections will be held on the first Monday of November 2028, and every five years thereafter.

It also states that elective barangay officials are prohibited from serving more than three consecutive terms in the same position, while SK officials are barred from serving more than one term in the same position.

“Voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official was elected,” it reads.

The bill states that incumbent officials shall be regarded as having completed one term, considering the extension of their term by two years.

It added that incumbent officials serving their third consecutive term in the same position shall be ineligible to run for the same position in 2028.

GMA News reached out to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for comment.

The 2026 BSKE is scheduled to be conducted on November 2.

According to Comelec, the number of registered regular voters has increased to around 71 million ahead of the BSKE — higher than the 68 million regular voters recorded during the 2025 national and local elections. —AOL, GMA News