Senate bill eyes longer term for barangay officials

A bill seeking to extend the term of office of barangay officials to six years from three years has been filed in the Senate.

Under Senate Bill 2629 filed on April 8, all elected barangay officials shall serve six years and shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same position.

The bill sets the next barangay elections on the last Monday of October 2029 and every six years after.

“The present term of three years is far too short for these officials to see their own projects through, since they spend the greater portion of their terms implementing the policies and projects of the National Government and as well as those of the city, municipal, or provincial government units,” Senator Imee Marcos said in her explanatory note.

Marcos chairs the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation.

According to her, six years would be sufficient for barangay officials to comply with the orders given by the national government and LGUs as well as implement their own projects.

Further, she said that the extension of the term would enable the government to save money, adding that the current budget for the barangay elections is at P18 billion.

“This upward trend in election costs will continue not only because of the general increase in the prices of election materials and manpower, but also because of the possibility that even barangay elections will also be automated in the future,” she said.

Marcos previously said that she is in favor of extending the term of office of barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan members.

“However, there is a need for a thorough review of the present SK laws. Thus, the terms of office of SK officials shall be dealt with in future amendments or revisions of the relevant SK aws,” she said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News