MANILA-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12326, officially moving the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from 2026 to November 2028 and setting the term of barangay and SK officials at five years.
The next BSKE will be conducted on the second Monday of November 2028, with succeeding elections to take place every five years. The new law was signed shortly before the scheduled filing of certificates of candidacy for the polls originally set for November 2, 2026.
Marcos said the extended period in office should translate into more time for incumbent officials to deliver services, complete ongoing projects and programs, and respond to the needs of their communities and young constituents.
RA 12326 also provides a mechanism for filling vacant SK positions. Mayors may appoint qualified replacements, provided that the appointees meet the requirements under the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.
Meanwhile, funds that remain unused from the budget originally allocated for the 2026 BSKE will continue to be available to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The money may be used for preparations for the 2028 National and Local Elections and other authorized expenses.
COMELEC Chairman George Garcia earlier said election materials already prepared for the postponed polls could still be utilized in future elections. The postponement, however, is expected to affect around P8 billion reportedly spent for election preparations.
The move has also drawn criticism from veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who questioned the extension of the incumbents’ terms without a fresh electoral mandate. Macalintal argued that postponing the elections for three years raises constitutional and suffrage concerns and should be supported by compelling reasons.
