ILOILO City – The two-year postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) should raise — not relax — expectations on incumbent village and youth officials, with Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas saying their extended stay in office must translate into more work and better public service.
With the next BSKE moved from November 2026 to November 2028, Treñas stressed that barangay and SK officials now have additional time to complete programs, address community concerns and demonstrate what they can accomplish with a longer mandate.
“For me, ang importante is what we do with the additional time given to us,” Treñas said.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 12326 on September 24, extending the terms of elected barangay and SK officials to five years.
The law moved the next regular BSKE from November 2, 2026 to the second Monday of November 2028. Succeeding elections will be held every five years.
Treñas said the extension should carry greater responsibility because barangay officials are the government representatives closest to residents and are often the first people approached when problems emerge in communities.
“Our barangay officials are the ones closest to our people. Sila ang una nga ginalapitan kun may problema sa komunidad,” she said.
Their familiarity with conditions on the ground also makes barangay officials crucial partners of the city government in delivering programs and services directly to residents.
“So, if they are given more time to serve, then we also expect more work to be done,” she added.
Treñas said the absence of barangay and SK elections this year would also allow the city government to sustain the implementation of projects without disruptions associated with the election period.
“Here in Iloilo City Hall, mapadayon man naton ang aton mga programa kag proyekto. Since wala anay sang election, indi man kita maapektuhan sang election ban, so we have more time to continue what we have started and roll out more programs,” she said.
Among the initiatives the city government intends to expand to the barangays is “Atipan on the Move,” along with other programs and frontline services.
“We will continue working closely with our barangay and SK officials,” Treñas said.
Marcos likewise underscored that the longer terms should not be viewed simply as additional years in power but as additional time to fulfill officials’ responsibilities to their constituents.
“Ang dagdag na panahon sa panunungkulan ay dagdag na panahon para maglingkod,” Marcos said in his statement on the signing of the law.
The President urged incumbent officials to use the extended period to improve public service, finish ongoing programs and respond to the needs of communities, families and young people./PN
