House okays bill extending term of barangay, SK execs
Rep. Raoul Manuel —House of Representatives photo
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that will extend from three years to six years the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and also move to May 2029 the elections scheduled this December.
During Monday’s plenary session, 153 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill No. 11287, while four rejected it and one abstained from voting.
Kabataan party list Rep. Raoul Manuel was among the four who voted against the bill, which amends provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991.
Manuel warned that the constitutionality of the bill may be questioned before the Supreme Court, as he also expressed concern that it could result in “political entrenchment” to the supposed detriment of public interest.
READ: Comelec: BSKE preps to continue amid House bill passage
HB 11287 seeks to amend section 43 (c) of RA 7160 to read: “The term of barangay officials and members of SK shall be for six years, which shall begin at noon of June 30, 2029, after the synchronized barangay and SK elections (BSKE) on the second Monday of May 2029.”
It also proposes that “no elective barangay official shall serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same position,” adding that “voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective barangay official concerned was elected.”
The bill also limits elected SK officials to only one term.
HB 11287 includes a transitory clause allowing incumbent barangay and SK officials elected on October 30, 2023, to remain in office. Only barangay officials serving their first term in 2023 will be eligible for reelection. On the other hand, SK officials elected in 2023 are banned from running again for any position.
Explaining his vote, Manuel conceded that while the term extension for current SK officials gives them ample time to fully implement their projects and plans, a six-year term for barangay and SK officials was unnecessary, as it could lead to political entrenchment. /cb
