It was originally scheduled for December this year.
On Wednesday, August 13, Malacañang announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12232, which postpones the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) that was originally set to happen in December 2025.
Under the new law, the BSEK will be moved to the first Monday of November 2026 and all subsequent regular BSKE will be held every four years thereafter.
Moreover, the term of office of all elected barangay and SK officials will be fixed to four years, with an elective barangay official not allowed to hold the same position for more than three consecutive terms. As for elective SK official, they shall not serve for more than one term in the same position.
“Voluntarily renunciation of office does not interrupt an elective official’s full term of service,” it added.
The tenure of all elected barangay officials and SK members, these shall commence on the first day of December following their election.
All incumbent barangay and SK officials, whom are supposed to have their terms expire this December, shall remain in office until their successors are elected and qualified—unless removed or suspended for cause.
“Incumbent barangay officials on their third consecutive term cannot run for the same position in the November 2026 BSKE,” the law also underscored.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall issue the rules to implement the law within 90 days from its effectivity.
During a media forum in India last week, the President Marcos announced his plan to sign the bill postponing the BSKE.
He said that this is to allow the COMELEC to concentrate its resources on the inaugural Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, which is scheduled to happen in October.
PBBM also emphasized the significance of the upcoming BARMM elections, noting that it will be the first time in Philippine history that the people will elect the region’s parliament representatives.