A bill seeking to postpone the holding of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled in November this year was filed at the House of Representatives.
Negros Occidental Third District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez filed House Bill 10591 on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The proposed measure resets the BSKE from Nov. 2, 2026 to Nov. 2028.
In a media interview, Benitez said he is pushing for the postponement because of the energy crisis, calamity, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections. on Sept. 14, 2026.
“This does not mean that the BSKE is cancelled,” he told reporters.
The country, according to Benitez, continues to reel from the effects of the conflict in the Middle East, which caused a historic disruption to global oil supply.
“The difficulty is neither conjectural nor confined to ordinary market fluctuation. It is a continuing public emergency requiring exceptional governmental action,” he said.
Benitez also noted that thousands of public schools across the country were affected by the recent earthquakes.
“Classrooms remain unsafe, inaccessible, occupied by rehabilitation work, or unavailable for public use, the corresponding voting centers cannot be presumed ready, adding that alternative sites must be identified, inspected, secured, equipped, and made accessible to voters, including senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities,” he said.
The proposed postponement will also give the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and other participating government agencies greater capacity to prepare for and administer the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections.
“Conducting these major elections in such close succession will place significant demands on COMELEC personnel, teachers, security forces, local governments, and logistical support agencies,” Benitez said.
The lawmaker revealed that he so far garnered support from 63 House members.IMT
