Bill extending term of barangay execs gets nod at House panel level

House of Representatives plenary. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A bill that seeks to extend the term of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials has been approved at the committee level in the House of Representatives.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the still unnumbered substitute bill was approved by the House committee on local government, headed by Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria.

Under the draft substitute bill, Section 42 of Republic Act No. 7160 will be amended to hold the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections by the second Monday of May 2029.

Then, each elected barangay official will now serve six terms, instead of just three.

Last August 13, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced that he and other ranking lawmakers have proposed setting a fixed term of six years for the barangay officials, to ensure continuity and projects and to protect them from politicking.

Romualdez said this during the Liga ng mga Barangay National Congress in Pasay City, saying that he and other House leaders 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.

READ: Romualdez, House solons propose 6-yr term for barangay, SK execs 

“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

At the Senate, Romualdez’ cousin Senator Imee Marcos also filed a bill seeking to extend the term of barangay officials, as the short terms supposedly hinder community leaders from “formulating, developing, and implementing” their own policies and projects.

READ: Bill to extend barangay officials’ term filed in Senate 

Like Romualdez’ proposal, the term of barangay officials will also be set to six years.