MANILA — The next barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will now be held on November 2026 — nearly a year later than originally scheduled — under a new law signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that also fixes the term of office for barangay and youth council officials at four years.
Republic Act No. 12232 moves the polls from December 2025 to the first Monday of November 2026 and institutionalizes a four-year term limit for both sets of officials. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) must now adjust its preparations to the new timetable.
Under the measure, a barangay chairperson or kagawad can serve no more than three consecutive terms in the same position, while Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials are limited to one term regardless of breaks in service. The law also bars those already on their third consecutive term from seeking re-election in 2026.
Elected officials in 2026 will assume office on December 1, with subsequent BSKEs following the same four-year cycle. Incumbents will stay in a “hold-over” capacity until their successors take over, unless removed or suspended under existing laws.
The Comelec is mandated to issue the implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from the law’s effectivity, detailing the election schedule, qualifications, and procedural guidelines.
Marcos had earlier backed the postponement, stressing that government resources and focus should first be directed toward the country’s historic first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The most recent BSKE took place on October 30, 2023, breaking a decade-long streak of repeated delays. With the new law in place, barangay and SK leaders are set for another extended stay in office before voters head to the polls again in 2026./PN
