By Liza Soriano
MANILA — The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill defining the term of office for barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).
The measure garnered unanimous support, with 22 senators voting in favor and no abstentions or negative votes.
Senator Imee Marcos highlighted the benefits of the longer term for barangay and SK officials.
“With the longer fixed term, barangay officials and SK members will deepen their understanding of both national and local issues, as well as implement their own medium- and long-term initiatives at the barangay level,” Marcos said.
Under the proposed law, the term of office for all elected barangay officials and SK members will be four years. No barangay official may serve more than three consecutive terms in the same position. Voluntary resignation will not count as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term.
The bill also sets the next regular barangay and SK elections for the first Monday of October 2027, with subsequent elections every four years. The term of office for officials elected after the law takes effect will begin on the first day of November following their election.
Once enacted, all incumbent barangay officials and SK members will remain in office until their successors are elected and qualified, unless removed or suspended for cause.
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