House bill seeks 6-year term for village, SK officials

FILE PHOTO: House of Representatives Session Hall —LYN RILLON

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure that will set at six years instead of three the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials.

House Bill No. 11287, which lawmakers approved on second reading in Monday’s plenary session, would also effectively move the barangay and SK elections (BSKE) set in December this year to 2029.

“The synchronized barangay and SK elections shall be held on the second Monday of May 2029 and every six years after,” the bill stated. The last BSKE were held in October 2023.

Under HB 11287, which seeks to amend Section 43 (c) of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code, no elective barangay official shall serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same position.

“Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective barangay official concerned was elected,” it added.

Holdover period

As for SK officials, they will be limited to just one term. Meanwhile, incumbent barangay and SK officials elected in October 2023 will remain in office until their successors are elected or they are removed or suspended for cause.

Barangay officials eligible to run for reelection are those serving their first term following their election in 2023. Those on their second or third consecutive terms cannot run for reelection.

Quezon City Rep. Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar, who sponsored the bill, said the measure would allow barangay and SK officials to implement long-term programs, offering “stability and better continuity of government programs.”

Another sponsor of HB 11287, Assistant Majority Leader Arnan Panaligan, maintained that extending their term of office would professionalize barangay and SK officials.

“Three years is too short for barangay officials to implement programs,” he said.

Panaligan explained that barangay and SK officials were required to undergo training in leadership and governance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and “their term is almost over by the time they receive that training.”

“A sufficient term of office would give a chance for them to improve,” he added.