SENATE APPROVES BILL SETTING 4-YEAR TERM FOR BARANGAY, SK OFFICIALS

THE Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill setting the term of office of barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) for four years.

During the plenary session, 22 senators voted in favor of Senate Bill 2816 or an Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, with no abstention and zero negative votes.

“With the longer fixed term, the barangay officials and members of the SK will deepen their understanding of both national and local issues, as well as implement their own medium and long term initiative at the barangay level,” Sen. Imee R. Marcos explained during her sponsorship speech.

Under the bill, “the term of office of all elected barangay officials and members of the SK shall be four years. No elective barangay official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same position.

Voluntary renunciation of 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 official was elected.”

The bill also stated that “the next regular barangay and SK elections shall be held on the first Monday of October 2027 and every four years thereafter.

The term of office of barangay officials and members of the SK elected subsequent to the effectivity of this Act shall commence on the first day of November following their election.”

Once passed into law, all incumbent barangay officials and members of the SK shall remain in office unless sooner removed or suspended for cause until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.

Incumbent elective barangay officials serving their third consecutive term in the same position shall not be eligible to run for the same position in the October 2027 Barangay and SK elections.