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Friday, January 17, 2025
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Friday, January 17, 2025

Senate approves bill extending barangay, SK terms to 4 years

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The Philippine Senate on Tuesday approved a significant piece of legislation that establishes a four-year term for barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

During a plenary session, 22 senators voted in favor of Senate Bill No. 2816 with no abstentions or negative votes.

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Senator Robinhood Padilla expressed his support to the proposed legislation and acknowledged that barangay officials and SK members have insufficient time to implement their initiatives.

“From a practical perspective, three years is not enough for these officials to execute their proposed agenda and programs,” he stressed. 

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada noted that the legislation will effectively resolve the ongoing issue of repeated postponements of barangay and SK elections.

“We anticipate that the enactment of this law will ensure the continuity of programs within our communities and foster more stable governance by our elected barangay and SK officials,” he stated. 

Senator Imee Marcos, who sponsored the measure, highlighted that extended terms would deepen the officials’ understanding of local and national issues.

The bill mandates that no elected barangay official may serve more than three consecutive terms in the same position.

It further stipulates that voluntary renunciation of office will not interrupt the continuity of service for elected officials.

The next barangay and SK elections are scheduled on the first Monday of October 2027 with subsequent elections occurring every four years thereafter.

“Hopefully one day we can give an accompanying measure on their benefits as well, particularly on the volunteer workers of the barangays,” Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri added. 

Newly elected officials will assume their duties on November 1 following their election and incumbent officials will remain in office until their successors are elected and qualified unless removed or suspended for cause.

Notably, those serving a third consecutive term will be ineligible to run in the October 2027 elections.

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