Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said the Lower House and Senate bills seeking the extension of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials’ terms are welcome moves.
Either of the two measures that is finally adopted will be welcome, Benitez said.The current three year terms are “disruptive to effective services. They cannot plan long term governance,” Benitez said.
The Bicameral Conference Committee is expected to reconcile the Lower House and Senate bills and may ratify the final version by Wednesday before Congress adjourns, Board Member Richard Julius Sablan, Negros Occidental Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay president, said.
The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Monday night, June 9, a bill that extends the terms of Barangay and SK officials from the current three years to six years.
That means the incumbent barangay and SK officials elected on Oct. 30, 2023, will remain in office until the next election in May 2029 if the approved bill is signed into law .
HB No.11287 bill sets a two-term limit for elective barangay officials and one term for elective SK officials.
The Senate in January approved Senate Bill 2816, which sets the term of office of elected barangay officials and SK members to four years, with a limit of three consecutive terms.
It sets the next regular barangay and SK elections for the first Monday of October 2027 and every four years thereafter.
Bacolod City Liga ng mga Barangay President Lady Gles Gonzales-Pallen of Barangay Taculing said the postponement of the elections in December, especially since the incumbent barangay and SK officials who were elected in 2023 have very short two-year terms, would be welcome.
This is in addition to the expected expenses if the elections are held this December.
Gonzales-Pallen believes that more programs can be implemented, especially by performing elected barangay officials if their terms are extended.*