Bill to extend barangay officials' term to 5 years needs to be reviewed, Palace says
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Malacañang said President Marcos will need to review the proposal to extend the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials before he can take a stand.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President cannot agree or disagree without studying the proposed measure that seeks to extend the terms of village officials to five years and reset the elections to November 2028.
"Sa ngayon po ay dapat mabasa muna kung anuman po ang kanilang panukala (For now, we need to review whatever proposal they have put forward)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
"Hindi po maaaring sumang-ayon agad, hindi puwedeng sumang-ayon or hindi sumang-ayon hanggat hindi nakikita kung bakit kailangan ng ganitong klaseng panukala at bakit kinakailangan ma-postpone (We cannot immediately agree, nor can we agree or disagree until we understand why this kind of proposal is being made and why the postponement is necessary)," Castro added.
"So, mas maganda bago po sumagot ang Pangulo patungkol sa ganyang isyu ay makita niya kung ano nilalaman ng panukalang ito (So, before the President responds to an issue like this, it would be better for him to first review the contents of the proposal)," Castro further said.
Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero has filed Senate Bill 2387 which seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 12232 or "An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and for Other Purposes."
According to Escudero, the bill would "promote continuity in governance, provide sufficient time for community development initiatives, reduce disruptions caused by frequent electoral exercises, and enable local officials to focus on public service rather than on electoral cycles."