House approves bill extending terms of brgy, SK officials

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THE House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved on second reading Speaker Martin Romualdez’s bill that sets a six-year term of office for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from the present three years.

Through voice voting, lawmakers approved House Bill No. 11287, which the Speaker filed to ensure the continuity of projects at the barangay and SK levels and protect officials from politicking.

A transitory provision in the bill allows all incumbent barangay and youth officials elected last October 30, 2023 to remain in office until the next elections in May 2029, unless they are legally removed or suspended.

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Under the proposed bill, barangay and SK officials will be prohibited from serving more than two consecutive terms in office.

Romualdez said the current status of the terms of barangay officials is confusing because there were laws passed extending it, which prompted a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting another extension “that’s why we need to fix and set the terms of our barangay officials.”

The other co-authors of the bill include Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Tingog party-list Reps. Jude Acidre and Yedda Marie Romualdez, and Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy V.

There is only less than a week left for the House to approve the bill on third and final reading as it is set to adjourn on February 7 for the campaign period for the May 2025 midterm elections.

The 19th Congress will resume session on June 2 but will adjourn sine die on the 13th of the same month.

The Senate has already approved on final reading its version of the bill, which seeks to grant barangay and SK officials a fixed term of four years.

Since there are differing provisions between the House and the Senate versions, a bicameral meeting will be needed to iron out the differences.

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