CAGAYAN de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez voiced opposition on Tuesday to the Senate’s plan to conduct the December barangay-Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
He argued that holding the polls then would result in SK officials having only a two-year and two-month term from their October 2023 election, leaving insufficient time to implement their programs.
Rodriguez expressed concern that this short tenure could hinder effective service and deepen existing divisions within communities, especially given the recent election-related tensions.
He also highlighted the significant financial burden of the upcoming elections, estimating that at least P8 billion would be needed — on top of the tens of billions spent on the May national elections — funds he believes could be better used for barangay development projects.
The lawmaker proposed extending the SK officials’ term to five years as a compromise, balancing the Senate’s suggested four-year term and the House’s six-year proposal.
He has filed a bill supporting the five-year tenure.
Additionally, Rodriguez appealed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who has promised that the December 2025 barangay elections would not push through, to consider his six-year proposal for SK officials.
In Senate discussions, Senate President Francis Escudero mentioned that the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) is considering whether to proceed with the December elections, as discussed in a recent meeting with President Marcos Jr. at Malacañang.
The decision now rests with both the Senate and the House, including rulings on the appropriate term length for SK officials.
