The Commission on Elections (Comelec) postponed the scheduled voter registration for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from July to late October this year.
“The voter registration will now take place in the last week of October after the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, and will run until July 2026,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.
Garcia said the new scheduled voter registration is in preparation for the BSKE in November 2026, should the proposed law extending the terms of barangay officials be approved.
While voter registration is currently on hold, Garcia noted that the Comelec will proceed with other preparations for the BSKE, as the proposed measure is still awaiting approval from President Marcos.
Even if the measure is eventually enacted, Garcia pointed out that the legality of extending the terms for barangay and SK officials could still face challenges in the Supreme Court.
“It would be unfair to them. BSK officials should enjoy the same privilege, which they would if their elections were postponed to November next year as proposed in the consolidated bill,” he said.
House Bill 11287, principally authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez, includes term limits of two terms for barangay officials and one term for SK officials. It also schedules future BSKEs every six years starting May 2029.
The bill amends the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160), extending the term of incumbent officials elected in October 2023 until May 2029 (unless removed or suspended for cause), to promote continuity in grassroots projects and reduce excessive politicking.
