Imee: No BSKE this year, village execs' term to be extended
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Sen. Imee Marcos said on Saturday, Feb. 1, that the term of incumbent barangay officials will be extended since there will be no Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this year.
SEN. Imee Marcos (fifth from left) graces the opening of the Cagsawa Festival in Daraga, Albay on Saturday, Feb. 1. Also in attendance were Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, acting Albay Gov. Glenda Ong-Bongao, DOT-Bicol Director Herbie Aguas, and Daraga, Albay officials. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Joey Salceda)
In her visit to Daraga, Albay for the opening of 15th Cagsawa Festival, Marcos said that the Senate is finalizing details but assured that there will be no BSKE elections.
“We are still negotiating the exact details, but I think it's quite clear that we’re not having an election this year. I hope that tuloy-tuloy na (it continues) and we should extend the barangay term instead of three years to minimum of four years to a maximum of six. Kailangan magkasundo muna ang Senate at ang House (The Senate and House need to agree),” she said.
She said that the Senate version seeks to give four-year and three terms for barangay officials.
“The Senate is only allowing four years. So four years, times three terms. So tatapusin namin ‘yan in the next two minutes kasi tatlong session na lang, malapit na (We will finish it as there are only three session days left),” Marcos said.
The Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2816, An act setting the term of office of barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, on Jan. 14.
Under the bill, "the term of office of all elected barangay officials and members of the SK shall be four years. No elective barangay official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same position.”
The bill also stated that "the next regular barangay and SK elections shall be held on the first Monday of October 2027 and every four years thereafter. The term of office of barangay officials and members of the SK elected subsequent to the effectivity of this Act shall commence on the first day of November following their election."
Marcos who originally proposed six years rather than four years per term reiterated that the bill is not an extension but an amendment to the Local Government Code.
“It’s not an extension, actually tama (it is right). What’s going to happen now is that actually going to amend the Local Government Code, it’s not actually an extension but a complete amendment of the length of terms, so, from three years, we’re going to change it and fix it from four to six years,” she said.
Marcos said that the terms of barangay officials should be extended, especially now that incumbent barangay officials have only two years in office.
“Kailangan kasi, unang-una, ‘yung mga naka-upo ngayon wala pang dalawang taon. October 2022 umupo sila tapos ang laki ng gastos, bilyon-bilyon, P18 billion, ngayon gagastos na naman sa December ng P20 billion. Lahat ng perang ‘yan puwede ng ibigay sa mga project ng mga barangay, wala naman silang halos pera. Pakatapos nun ang gulo nitong taon na ito, ang dami-daming eleksyon. Ito ‘yung super election year. National and local pakatapos may BARMM election diyan sa Mindanao na first time na magulo kasi alam mo naman Mindanao ibang level, tapos ikatlo nagmamakaawa na ‘yung Comelec puwede ba wag naman lahat sabay-sabay (Incumbents have only less than two years. They assumed office in Oct. 2022 and we have spent billions for the elections that we should have given to barangays who do not have money for projects. This year has too many elections, national, local, and the BARMM. The Comelec is pleading if we can postpone too many elections),” she said.