Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero welcomed the enactment of Republic Act No. 12326, which sets a five-year term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and moves the next Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) to November 2028.
In a statement, Escudero thanked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for signing the measure into law, saying the new law would provide greater stability and continuity in barangay governance.
“Malinaw sa atin na ang layunin ng batas na ito ay ayusin ang sistema at tiyakin na may malinaw na ikot o siklo sa pamamahala sa barangay. Kapag maayos ang termino, maayos din ang serbisyo,” Escudero said in his statement.
Marcos signed RA 12326 on September 24, 2026, postponing the BSKE that was originally scheduled for November 2, 2026. The next barangay and SK elections will be held in November 2028, with succeeding elections to take place every five years.
Escudero, one of the principal authors of the measure in the Senate, said the barangay’s role as the government’s frontline in delivering public services makes stability in local governance important.
“Ang barangay ang frontliners ng pamahalaan sa anumang serbisyo publiko,” he said, adding that the law is expected to bring “katiyakan at katatagan sa pamamahala.”
The Senate president also expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives for supporting the measure.
“Maraming salamat din sa ating mga kasamahan sa Senado, pati na rin sa ating mga kapwa mambabatas sa House of Representatives, sa kanilang suporta at pakikiisa upang maipasa ang repormang ito,” Escudero said.
Under RA 12326, barangay officials will serve five-year terms and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in the same position. SK officials are limited to one term in the same position.
The law also provides that incumbent barangay officials serving their final term will no longer be eligible to run for the same position in the 2028 elections.
Escudero said the measure is intended to promote more stable and efficient governance at the barangay level, where local officials are directly involved in the delivery of basic government services.
