MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has passed on final reading a measure seeking to extend the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from three years to six, while also moving the next elections to May 2029.
On Monday, House Bill No. 11287 was approved with 153 affirmative votes, while four lawmakers voted against it and one abstained.
Among those who opposed the bill was Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, who warned that the extension could be legally challenged and may lead to the prolonged hold on power by local officials, which he said runs counter to public interest.
The bill amends the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160), specifically Section 43 (c), to reflect the new term duration and the next scheduled barangay and SK polls. According to the proposed provision, elected officials will begin their six-year term on June 30, 2029, following elections to be held on the second Monday of May 2029.
Key provisions of the bill include:
A maximum of two consecutive terms for barangay officials in the same position.
Voluntary resignation will not reset the term limit.
SK officials will be allowed to serve only one full term.
To guide the transition, the measure allows incumbents elected on October 30, 2023, to serve until the 2029 elections. However, only first-term barangay officials may run again, while SK officials elected in 2023 are disqualified from seeking reelection.
Rep. Manuel argued that although the term extension gives current SK officials more time to fulfill their projects, a six-year term is excessive and risks weakening democratic participation at the grassroots level.
