Marcos signs law postponing BSKE polls to Nov. 2026, extends BSK officials' term to 4 years
At A Glance
- Based on the newly signed law, Barangay and SK officials will now serve four-year terms beginning with the December 2026 polls.
- The Barangay and SK elections shall be held every four years starting in 2026.
President Marcos has signed into law a measure extending the term of office for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to four years as he postponed the December 2025 BSK elections to November next year.
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Republic Act No. 12232, signed by the President on Wednesday, Aug. 13, amends the current three-year term and limits barangay officials to a maximum of three consecutive terms in the same position. SK officials, meanwhile, are limited to one term.
Under the law, the next barangay and SK elections will be held on the first Monday of November 2026 and every four years thereafter. Winners will assume office on the first day of December following their election.
All incumbent barangay and SK officials will remain in their posts until their successors have been elected and qualified, unless they are removed or suspended for cause.
The measure bars incumbent barangay officials serving their third consecutive term from running for the same position in the 2026 polls. The same applies to SK officials who have already served their maximum term.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is mandated to issue implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from the law’s effectivity, which takes place immediately after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Last week, President Marcos said he would sign the bill postponing the December 2025 BSKE to next year, citing the need to prioritize the country’s first-ever Bangsamoro Parliament elections in October.
He explained that holding the BSKE in December would place too much burden on Comelec, which is already managing two major polls this year: the May midterm elections and the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections.
“Ang COMELEC actually ang nagsasabi: ‘Hindi namin kaya’ (It’s actually the Comelec that’s saying: ‘We can’t handle it’),” he said.
The President emphasized the historical significance of the BARMM vote, which will be the first time that a regional parliament in the Bangsamoro will be directly elected by the people.
He added that the success of the BARMM election is critical to the Mindanao peace process.
“If that election fails, malaking bagay, malaking failure ‘yan doon sa peace process (that would be a major blow to the peace process),” he said.
“Kaya’t kailangan na kailangan maging matagumpay ang pagganap ng halalan ng BARMM (That’s why it is crucial that the BARMM election is successfully held),” he added.