With a vote of 13 in favor, five in opposition, and zero abstentions, the Senate has approved on the third reading the bill extending the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) terms to five years, effectively postponing the November polls.
For Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, Senate Bill No. 2387 would allow barangay and SK officials more time to plan and execute local programs, and enable continuity in the implementation of these programs and projects.
“Malinaw ang pangunahing dahilan ng aking boto, kailangang bigyan ang ating mga halal na opisyal ng sapat na panahong magplano, maipatupad ang kanilang mga programa, at managot sa taumbayan sa kabuuang termino ng kanilang paglilingkod,” he reasoned.
“Nagdadala ng konkretong pagbabago ang panukalang ito. Ang mas mahabang termino ay nagbibigay ng higit na pagpapatuloy sa mga proyekto at programa ng ating mga barangay,” he added.
In this way, communities will not experience an abrupt halt to services that may truly be serving them in the aspects of health, sanitation, peace and order, and so on, the senator said.
“Hindi basta-basta mapuputol ang mga serbisyong direktang nakakaapekto sa buhay ng ating kababayan. Mula sa kalusugan at sanitation hanggang sa peace and order at mga lokal na proyektong imprastraktura,” he said.
Above all, time spent on election preparations will significantly decrease, and can instead be spent addressing communities’ concerns.
“Higit sa lahat, mas kaunti ang panahong mauubos sa paghahanda para sa susunod na halalan at mas maraming panahon ang mailalaan sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo at pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga barangay,” Gatchalian stated.
On the other hand, Senator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV voted against the term extension, citing a delay in Filipinos’—particularly the youths’—opportunity to exercise their right to choose their local leaders.
Based on dialogue with incumbent SK leaders, Aquino said they clearly expressed a desire to move on to a new chapter of their lives.
“I vote to allow the BSKE elections to push through this coming November. I vote against its postponement. Huwag na po nating ipagpaliban ang karapatan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na po ang kabataan, na pumili ng kanilang mga lider,” he explained his vote.
“Maraming kabataan po ang handang tumakbo at maglingkod sa kanilang komunidad at sa mga kapwa kabataan. Sa totoo lang po, sa ating pakikipag-usap sa mga pangkasalukuyang SK leaders, marami sa kanila ang nais pong magpatuloy sa susunod na yugto ng kanilang buhay,” he added, saying it was time to give a new generation a chance at leadership.
Likewise, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan voted in opposition to the five-year term, arguing that youths are often encouraged to participate in discourse concerning the country’s pressing needs, to vote and themselves run for public office—and now, their start has been shifted once more.
“Tulad ni Senator Bam, mga encounter at engagement natin sa mga kabataan, madalas natin silang hinihimok na lumahok sa mga usapin ng bayan, bumoto at tumakbo sa BSKE (na) naka-schedule in less than two months. Sinasabi natin sa kanila, ‘Makialam kayo. Kayo ang mitsa ng pagbabago. Kayo ang pag-asa ng bayan.’ Tapos kapag handa na silang tumakbo, bumoto at mamuno, bakit bigla nating iuurong ang sinasabing starting line?” he questioned.
The senator said that across regions, political affiliations, and generations, the sentiment is the same: to proceed with the local polls.
“According to the August 2026 national momentum survey, support was highest among millennials na ituloy ang eleksyon at 82 percent, followed by Gen Z at 80.7 percent,” he revealed.
“Among Gen Z respondents, 74.5 percent favored proceeding, while 73.5 percent ng baby boomers at miyembro ng silent generation, suportado rin ang halalan,” he added.
Pangilinan himself is a product of early community engagement, he shared, and so this matter is of great importance to him.
“Ako mismo ay produkto ng pakikilahok sa halalan at pagkilos ng kabataan sa lokal na politika noong ako’y unang tumakbo bilang konsehal ng Lungsod ng Quezon noong 1988, kaya malaking bagay para sa akin na ituloy ang halalang ito,” he shared.
He also pointed out that democracy was not strengthened by such delays to its processes, but in allowing constituents to engage with their localities, stand firm, take action, and serve.
“Hindi lumalakas ang demokrasya kapag dine-delay o pino-postpone. Lumalakas ito kapag mas maraming mamamayan ang binibigyan ng pagkakataong makilahok, manindigan, kumilos, maglingkod,” he said.
In August, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia warned that postponing the November Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) would mean wasting the ₱8 billion the poll body had already spent on preparations.
