Senate panel approves 2026 BSKE reset, fixing terms to 5 years

A Senate panel on Monday approved the proposed measures postponing the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and fixing the officials' term from four to five years.

Senator Francis Escudero explained that his proposed measure aims to prevent further changes to the terms of barangay and SK officials and avoid future postponements of the BSKE.

"Hopefully that will insulate it from any further tinkering by Congress with the intention of either fixing or the real intention, maybe for some, of simply postponing the barangay elections," Escudero said during a Senate hearing.

Escudero filed Senate Bill 2387, which 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."

The senator explained that the proposed measure aims to fix, and not just extend or postpone, the terms of barangay and SK officials from four to five years.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos filed Senate Bill 2067, which seeks to move the BSKE from Novermber 2026 to October 2027 as it would fall on All Souls' Day this year.

The BSKE is scheduled for November 2.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia reiterated that the poll body is hoping for clarity by September on whether the BSKE will proceed as scheduled.

"Kanina sa Senado, [nakiusap kami] na kung pupwede magkaalaman na kung ma-po-postpone o hindi itong ating eleksyon bago matapos ang buwan na September kasi filing of candidacy sa September 28 to October 5. Kung kakayanin, mas maaga," Garcia told reporters.

(Earlier at the Senate, we appealed for a decision on whether the elections will be postponed or proceed as scheduled before the end of September, since the filing of candidacies is set from September 28 to October 5. If possible, we hope to know sooner.)

"Kahit pangalawang linggo ng September man lang maging maliwanag kung matutuloy o hindi ating halalan para mawala yung agam-agam ng mga mag pa-file ng candidacy. Yung aming tauhan din namin sa filed para maging maliwanag at may pinaghahandaan kaming Bangsamoro parliamentary election," he added.

(Even by the second week of September, we hope it will be clear whether the elections will proceed or not, so that those who intend to file their candidacies will be informed, as well as our field personnel, and it will allow us to properly prepare for the Bangsamoro parliamentary election.) —LDF, GMA News