BACOLOD City — The fate of the proposed postponement of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) now rests with Congress, with lawmakers facing a narrowing window to act before the scheduled November 2 polls.
Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez, one of the lawmakers pushing to defer the elections to 2028, acknowledged that time is running short for Congress to decide on the proposal.
Benitez said he and his political team are prepared for either outcome — whether the postponement is approved or the elections proceed as scheduled.
“For me, if it will push through or not, we are ready whatever happens, whatever the decisions of Congress and the administration,” he said.
He said the proposed postponement could still move forward if Congress treats it as a priority measure despite the limited time remaining before the elections.
“Whatever the decision of the majority may be, there is still a way if it will be decided to be a priority bill,” Benitez said.
The proposal seeks to defer the BSKE from November 2026 to 2028. Its passage, however, will depend on the action and approval of the majority in both chambers of Congress.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has maintained that Congress has the authority to decide whether the elections should be postponed.
Meanwhile, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia has warned of the financial consequences of delaying the polls, saying the poll body has already spent around P8 billion for preparations for the November 2 elections.
The Comelec has allocated a total BSKE budget of P19 billion.
Garcia earlier warned that the P8 billion already spent could effectively go to waste if the November elections are postponed.
“So, regarding that P8 billion, it would truly go to waste if the November elections do not proceed,” Garcia said.
He also said the Comelec is fully prepared to conduct the elections, noting that much of the funds already spent went toward equipment and other preparations.
With the November 2 election date drawing closer, Congress must determine whether to approve the proposed deferment to 2028 or allow the barangay and SK elections to proceed as scheduled.
For Benitez, the outcome will ultimately depend on the majority in Congress, but he said his camp is prepared for either scenario./PN
