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POSTPONED. Palace press officer Usec. Claire Castro meets with Ilocos Norte officials led by Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos on Sept. 25, 2026 in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Castro confirmed the postponement of BSKE to November 2028. (Lei Adriano) |
By Leilanie Adriano
CITY OF BATAC—Ilocos Norte officials welcomed the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to 2028, saying the extension would give village officials more time to complete programs and deliver services to their communities.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro officially confirmed the postponement Friday during a press conference at Mariano Marcos State University in the City of Batac, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signing of Senate Bill No. 2387.
The measure amends Republic Act No. 12232, extends the term of barangay and SK officials from four to five years, and moves the next BSKE to November 2028.
Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said the postponement would allow barangay and SK officials to continue implementing programs and projects without the immediate disruption of an electoral transition.
“Tuloy po ang trabaho natin sa ating mga ka-barangay [Our work for our ka-barangay continues]. Let’s focus on work instead of politics,” she said in an interview.
Jojo Cumlat, an incumbent barangay councilor in Vintar, said the extension would allow village officials to focus on community programs and government services.
“The reasons for the postponement of the BSKE are very clear. Our barangay and SK officials must work for the barangay,” Cumlat said.
He said barangay officials are on the frontline of government service, particularly during emergencies, disasters and community-level programs.
With the additional time, he added, local officials can continue responding to the needs of their constituents while carrying out ongoing programs and projects.
Meanwhile, City of Batac Mayor Christian Mark Chua challenged barangay officials to use the extended term to demonstrate their leadership and deliver on their responsibilities.
“There’s a positive and negative effect of the postponement, but I would like to see the positive side. There will be more work to be accomplished and for the barangay and province to be more productive,” Chua said.
The President has also called on barangay officials to use the postponement to improve public service, complete ongoing programs and focus on the needs of their communities, families and young people.
However, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has challenged the postponement before the Supreme Court, asking the tribunal to order the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to continue preparations for the BSKE originally scheduled for November 2, 2026.
Because of Republic Act No. 12326, the Comelec halted the filing of certificates of candidacy for the elections, which was supposed to begin the previous day.
In his petition, Macalintal argued that RA 12326 “infringes the electorate’s right of suffrage by postponing the November 2026 BSKE under the guise of fixing terms” and should therefore be “declared inoperative, invalid and/or unconstitutional.”
Named respondents in the petition were the Office of the President through the Executive Secretary, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Comelec.
In an interview with reporters, Macalintal also objected to what he described as a three-year extension of the terms of barangay and SK officials, counting from the first postponement of the BSKE in December 2025 and the second postponement to November 2026.
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