CAGAYAN de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sign a bill extending the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) officials and postponing their next elections to late 2026.
The proposed measure would extend BSK officials' terms to four years and move the elections from Dec. 1, 2025, to the first Monday of November 2026.
Rodriguez’s appeal came after election lawyer Romulo Macalintal recommended that Marcos veto the bill due to constitutional concerns.
In response, Rodriguez defended the measure, asserting that Congress has the authority to set term lengths and election dates for BSK officials.
He argued that holding elections in December 2025 would result in officials serving only two years, shorter than other local officials, which he called a matter of fairness.
He also cited cost concerns, saying the Commission on Elections would spend an estimated P12 billion if the polls proceed as scheduled. He proposed that the funds instead be used to support programs for the country’s more than 42,000 barangays.
Rodriguez further warned that holding three elections in one year — the national elections in May, Barmm polls in October, and BSK elections in December — would place a heavy burden on both the government and voters.
Addressing criticism that the bill violates the Constitution’s single-subject rule, Rodriguez clarified that the measure solely concerns the change in BSK officials’ terms and election dates.
The final decision on the bill now lies with President Marcos.
