The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) stated that Malacañang has requested their comments regarding the proposed bill that seeks to extend the terms of elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials.
According to COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia, they have already sent a response to the Office of the President. He mentioned that the poll body recognized this move and believes that there is nothing more to add, aside from the data they have provided and their position on the bill.
The proposed bill, which has already been approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives, aims to extend the term of office for Barangay and SK officials from the current three years to four years.
If this becomes law, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be moved from the first day of December this year to November 2026.
However, Garcia also shared that the commission’s preparations for BSKE are ongoing, in case it proceeds in December. He mentioned that the procurement process for election materials, such as pens, paper, and 68,000 ballot boxes, is already underway.
One of the points mentioned in their letter was the short preparation time for COMELEC, as they are also preparing for the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections, which are set to take place this October.
