Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero welcomed Monday the Senate’s approval of a measure extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years, saying the longer tenure would give local leaders more time to implement programs for their communities.
The Senate approved Senate Bill No. 2387 on third and final reading with 13 affirmative votes, five negative votes and no abstentions.
Escudero, the bill’s principal author and sponsor, thanked his colleagues for supporting the measure, which moves the next Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) from November 2026 to November 2028.
Under the measure, succeeding BSKEs will be held every five years on the second Monday of November to avoid conflict with the annual observance of All Saints’ Day.
Escudero said the longer term would give barangay and SK officials more time to plan, implement and evaluate programs without frequent electoral transitions disrupting their work.
“Barangays are planners, implementers, first responders, peacekeepers, and frontline service providers—all at a level where government interacts directly with households and families,” he said.
The bill was amended during plenary deliberations to limit barangay officials to two consecutive five-year terms instead of three.
SK officials will be limited to one term under the amended measure to encourage broader youth participation and leadership turnover.
Escudero said the measure balances continuity in local governance with democratic accountability by allowing officials to pursue longer-term initiatives while retaining limits on their tenure.
He said the five-year term would provide local officials more time to implement programs and projects that would directly benefit their communities.
The bill will take effect once enacted into law.
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