Bill extending terms of brgy, SK officials to 6 years nears final OK in House
![Bill extending terms of brgy, SK officials to 6 years nears final OK in House](https://images.gmanews.tv/webpics/2023/10/Barangay_officials_2023_10_21_01_27_34.png)
The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill seeking to extend the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from three to six years.
House Bill 11287 also seeks to provide a transitory provision which grants all incumbent barangay and SK officials elected last October 30, 2023 to remain in office until the next elections in May 2029, unless sooner removed or suspended for cause.
The bill states that the synchronized barangay and SK elections will be held every six years on the second Monday of May starting in 2029.
Likewise, the bill sets a two-term limit for elective barangay officials but limits the SK officials to one term.
The bill is authored by 48 lawmakers, including Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The House has one week left to approve the measure on third and final reading before the adjournment of session on February 7 to give way to the campaign period and conduct of the May 2025 polls.
It will resume session on June 2 to 13 before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die.
The Senate already approved its version of the measure, which grants barangay and SK officials a fixed term of four years, on third and final reading.
Once the House approves its version, a bicameral conference committee will be convened to reconcile the differing provisions of the measure.
Prior to the October 2023 polls, the barangay and SK polls were postponed in 2020.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. signed a law postponing the 2023 barangay and SK elections anew, but this was stopped by the Supreme Court for being unconstitutional.—AOL, GMA Integrated News