MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other ranking lawmakers have proposed setting a fixed term of six years for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to ensure continuity and projects and to protect them from politicking.
Romualdez, during the Liga ng mga Barangay National Congress in Pasay City on Tuesday, announced that they have filed House Bill (HB) No. 10747, or the proposed Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Officials to Six Years.
According to the Speaker, he and House lawmakers decided to set a fixed six-year term for barangay officials to do away with confusion brought by recent term extensions, poll suspensions, and other laws.
“The entire House of Representatives acknowledges the huge contributions brought by our barangay officials towards good governance. Due to this, we in the House have decided to file House Bill No. 10747, An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang Officials to Six Years — six years, is that okay with you?” Romualdez asked barangay officials present at the event.
“To be honest, we have been confused about the status of barangay officials’ terms, when I was still the Majority leader, there were many extensions, and then there was a Supreme Court ruling. That’s why we need to fix and set the terms of our barangay officials,” he added.
Copies of HB No. 10747 sent to reporters by the Speaker’s office showed that aside from Romualdez, the following lawmakers were co-authors of the bill:
- Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr.
- Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe
- Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos
- Tingog party-list Reps. Jude Acidre and Yedda Marie Romualdez
- Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino Dy V
Under the bill, Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials are not allowed to serve more than two terms in office.
The proposed measure also sets the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to the last Monday of October 2029, with subsequent elections held every six years after.
According to Romualdez, setting the terms of barangay officials to six years will ensure that programs at the grassroots are implemented, while also protecting community leaders from the politics of national and local elections.
“It is the goal of the proposed measure to set the fixed term of barangay officials to six years. With this, there would be enough time for planning and the implementation of long-term programs that will bring prosperity to your barangays,” Romualdez said.
“I hope barangay leaders would be happy with this proposal. Within these six years, we would not bother you with electoral issues and you can put your entire attention to serving our communities,” he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended the 2022 BSKE upon the prodding of lawmakers from the House and the Senate to use the funds for pandemic recovery instead.
READ: President signs into law bill suspending 2022 barangay, SK elections
However, the Supreme Court in June 2023 declared the law unconstitutional, ordering the BSKE to proceed last October 2023.
As of now, the next BSKE is scheduled to be held in 2025, but different sectors, including no less than the Commission on Elections, have been suggesting that the next polls be held in 2026 to avoid shortening the term of officials who won in 2023.