The House of Representatives has passed on final reading a bill that would extend the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from three to six years, following a majority vote during Monday’s plenary session.
House Bill No. 11287, which proposes amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), gained overwhelming support with 153 lawmakers voting in favor, four against, and one abstention.
If enacted, the bill would move the next barangay and SK elections to the second Monday of May 2029, setting a six-year term for elected officials at the village level.
The proposal, however, did not pass without scrutiny. Kabataan party-list Representative Raoul Manuel challenged the rationale behind the extension, questioning if limited term lengths truly prevent public servants from achieving meaningful work. “For example, we in the House of Representatives, we only have three-year terms. So does this mean that we also cannot do anything meaningful?” he asked during debates.
In response, Oriental Mindoro Representative Arnan Panaligan, an Assistant Majority Leader, rejected the comparison. “It seems like we are comparing apples to oranges,” he argued, stressing that the resources and responsibilities between barangay officials and national legislators differ significantly.
Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed support for the measure, saying longer terms will promote continuity in local programs and shield officials from constant political pressure.
A similar initiative is also being pursued in the Senate. Senator Imee Marcos earlier filed Senate Bill No. 2816, which also seeks longer terms for barangay officials. However, her version proposes a four-year term and schedules the next elections for October 2027, with subsequent polls every four years.
The Senate approved the bill with 22 affirmative votes and no opposition, signaling broad consensus on the need to revisit the current setup for grassroots governance.
