Marcos Signs RA 12326, Sets 5-Year Terms for Barangay, SK Officials; Next Elections in 2028

Excerpt: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12326, setting five-year terms for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials and moving the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to November 2028.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Friday, September 25, 2026, that he has signed Republic Act No. 12326, setting longer terms for elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials.

The new law sets the term of barangay and SK officials at five years and moves the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, or BSKE, to the second Monday of November 2028.

The measure changes the election schedule previously established under Republic Act No. 12232.

What Changes Under Republic Act No. 12326?

Under the measure approved by Congress, elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials will serve five-year terms.

The law also provides that:

• The next regular Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections will be held on the second Monday of November 2028.
• Succeeding BSKEs will be conducted every five years.
• Barangay officials will be limited to two consecutive terms in the same position.
• Sangguniang Kabataan officials will continue to be limited to one term in the same position.

The additional period granted to incumbent officials will also count toward their term, preventing the extension from effectively resetting their term limits.

The measure likewise provides that the longer term does not exempt incumbent barangay and SK officials from administrative, civil, or criminal investigations and liabilities.

Barangay and SK Elections Moved to November 2028

Before the signing of RA 12326, Republic Act No. 12232 governed the schedule of barangay and SK elections.

Signed in August 2025, RA 12232 established a four-year term for barangay and SK officials and scheduled the next regular BSKE for November 2026.

That law was later challenged before the Supreme Court.

In November 2025, the Supreme Court upheld RA 12232, ruling that Congress has the authority to determine the term of office of barangay officials. The Court said the resulting adjustment of the election schedule was connected to Congress’ exercise of its authority to establish those terms.

RA 12326 now changes the term from four years to five years and moves the next regular elections to November 2028.

Marcos: Longer Term Means More Time to Serve

In announcing the signing of the law, Marcos said the additional years in office should give barangay and SK officials more time to complete long-term programs and address the needs of their communities.

“Ang dagdag na panahon sa panunungkulan ay dagdag na panahon para maglingkod.”

Marcos said the five-year term would give officials more time to implement programs involving livelihood, health, housing, and other community concerns.

He also emphasized that the additional time should not simply be seen as additional years in office.

“Hindi ito dagdag na panahon sa puwesto. Dagdag itong panahon ng pananagutan sa taumbayan.”

Supporters of the measure in Congress similarly argued that longer terms would provide grassroots officials more time to plan, implement, and evaluate programs before another election.

Some lawmakers also said conducting barangay and SK elections less frequently could reduce government election expenses.

How the Measure Passed Congress

The House of Representatives approved its version of the measure on September 8, with 211 affirmative votes, 13 negative votes, and one abstention.

The Senate later approved its version on third and final reading with a 13-5 vote.

The House subsequently adopted the Senate-approved version, removing the need for a bicameral conference committee.

The enrolled bill was then transmitted to the Office of the President before Marcos announced its signing on September 25.

Measure Faced Opposition

The proposal to extend the terms of barangay and SK officials also faced opposition.

Critics argued that the scheduled 2026 elections should be allowed to proceed and that any longer term should instead apply to officials elected in the succeeding polls.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal had urged the President to veto the measure, arguing that extending the terms of incumbent officials affects voters’ opportunity to periodically choose their local leaders.

Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III also raised concerns during deliberations and proposed allowing the 2026 elections to proceed before implementing the five-year term.

Supporters of the measure, meanwhile, maintained that the legislation principally establishes the length of terms for barangay and SK officials rather than merely postponing an election.

What Happens to the Scheduled 2026 BSKE?

Before the signing of RA 12326, the Commission on Elections had continued preparations for the November 2, 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections because the existing election law remained in effect while the new measure was awaiting presidential action.

COMELEC had also been preparing for activities connected with the elections, including the filing of certificates of candidacy.

With the President announcing the signing of RA 12326, updated COMELEC guidelines are expected regarding the election calendar and activities previously scheduled for the 2026 BSKE.

The official published text of RA 12326 will also provide the complete provisions and effectivity clause of the new law.

From the 2023 BSKE to 2028

The most recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections were held on October 30, 2023.

Under RA 12326, the next regular BSKE will now take place in November 2028.

Marcos said the longer period should provide barangay and SK officials additional time to carry out programs while also placing greater responsibility on them to serve their communities.

Sources

• Office of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., announcement on the signing of Republic Act No. 12326, September 25, 2026
• House of Representatives of the Philippines, reports and press releases on the proposed five-year terms for barangay and SK officials
• Senate of the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 2387 and related legislative proceedings
• Supreme Court E-Library, Republic Act No. 12232
• Supreme Court decision involving the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 12232
• Commission on Elections statements regarding preparations for the 2026 BSKE
• Philippine News Agency reports on the passage and transmission of the measure
• GMA News reports on the final Senate-approved BSKE measure and reactions to the proposal
• ABS-CBN News reports on Senate deliberations on the measure
• Philippine Daily Inquirer reports on objections raised during Senate deliberations