President Marcos is expected to sign into law the bill postponing the Barangay and SK Elections, originally scheduled for December 1, 2025, to the first Monday of November 2026. The measure also extends the term of barangay and SK officials from three to four years. 

COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia III announced that the law will be signed by President Bongbong Marcos on August 12, at 2:00 p.m. 

The proposed postponement may not sit well with some people, given the country’s history of repeated delays, but it remains a practical and necessary move. 

The last barangay and SK elections were held on October 30, 2023, after many years of delay. This means elected officials will have served merely two years by the time the elections come around in December. 

This compressed term limits their ability to implement meaningful programs and establish continuity in leadership, especially in rural areas where barangays serve as the backbone of local governance. 

Barangay officials are not just ceremonial figures. They resolve community conflicts, manage local peacekeeping efforts, and help enforce national laws at the grassroots level. Frequent changes in leadership risk disrupting public service delivery, especially in times of crisis like natural disasters or public health emergencies. 

Moreover, elections are expensive. Postponing the polls allows the government to reallocate significant funds, estimated in the billions, toward more urgent development needs. 

The proposed legislation extending the term from three to four years also makes sense from a governance standpoint. A longer term fosters stability and gives officials the time they need to earn the public’s trust and deliver on their promises. 

Skeptics argue that postponing elections undermines democracy. But democracy is not just about elections. It is about effective governance. Barangay and SK officials deserve more than a token term. Let’s give them the time to lead, the chance to prove themselves, and the resources to govern well. The nation and our communities deserve nothing less.