President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years.
The measure, tagged as Republic Act No. 12326, amends Republic Act No. 12232, the law setting the terms of barangay and SK officials
Under the new law, elected barangay and SK officials will serve for five years.
Barangay officials cannot serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position, while SK officials can serve only one term in the same position.
The next regular barangay and SK elections will be held on the second Monday of November 2028 and every five years after that.
The law also provides a way to fill vacant positions in the SK. A city or municipal mayor may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy, provided the appointee meets the requirements under the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.
It also requires continuing training programs for barangay and SK officials to help them perform their duties. The Department of the Interior and Local Government will lead the training with TESDA, COMELEC, state universities and colleges, and other government agencies.
For incumbent barangay officials whose terms were extended by two years, the law considers the extension as completion of one term. This means those already serving their last term in the same position cannot run for the same post in the November 2028 elections.
The law also says incumbent officials will remain subject to pending and future administrative, civil or criminal cases and investigations against them.
RA 12326 takes effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.IMT
