Marcos signs BSKE postponement into law

[Updated Sept. 25, 2026, 12:09 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for Nov. 2 and extending the term of incumbent officials to five years.

Known as Republic Act No. 12326, or the Act Fixing the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan to Five Years, the law sets the next BSKE for the second Monday of November 2028, giving officials elected in 2023 an additional two-year term.

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In a social media post on Friday, Marcos said he would expect incumbent officials to maximize the additional time to further improve public service.

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READ: Why postpone the BSKE again?

“Sa paglagda natin sa Republic Act No. 12326 na nagtatakda ng limang taong termino para sa mga opisyal ng barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan, malinaw ang ating inaasahan sa ating mga kasalukuyang opisyal. Gamitin ang panahong ito upang mas pagbutihin ang serbisyo, tapusin ang mga nasimulang programa at mas tutukan ang pangangailangan ng bawat komunidad, pamilya at kabataan,” Marcos said.

(With the signing of Republic Act No. 12326, which sets a five-year term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, our expectations for our current officials are clear. Use this time to further improve public service, complete programs that have already been started, and focus more closely on the needs of every community, family, and young person.)

“Hindi ito dagdag na panahon sa puwesto. Dagdag itong panahon ng pananagutan sa taumbayan,” he also said.

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(This is not additional time in office. It is additional time for accountability to the people.)

Based on a copy of the law posted on the Official Gazette, incumbent elective barangay officials shall be considered to have completed one term in their respective positions, given the two-year extension of their terms.

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“Incumbent officials serving their last term in the same position in accordance with Section 1 hereof shall be ineligible to run for the same position in the November 2028 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections,” the law signed on Thursday read.

A vacancy in the Sangguniang Kabataan shall be filled by appointment by the city or municipal mayor, while a vacancy in the SK chairperson position shall be filled through succession as provided by law. /mr /atm