Why postpone the BSKE again?
Next to that diploma on the wall, the one mark of distinction that most Filipinos value is public office — even just within one’s neighborhood. Which explains why barangay positions are just as prized — and fought over — as national posts. The latest proposed postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) thus comes both as a blessing and a bane—for the village officials and the voters, respectively.
On Sept. 14, the Senate approved a bill setting the term of barangay and SK officials to five years, which effectively postponed the scheduled Nov. 2 polls this year to November 2028. The House adopted the Senate’s version of the bill on Sept. 16, and sent the measure posthaste to Malacañang for the President’s signature.
While barangay and SK officials are supposed to serve three years, their fixed term has been disrupted by laws passed by Congress that led to repeated BSKE postponements. As pointed out by Sen. Francis Escudero, the BSKE has been postponed seven times since 2005. The most recent postponement involves the December 2025 elections that had been moved to November 2026, and now possibly to November 2028.
Perks, privileges, and powers
The postponement and resulting term extension are not exactly surprising, given the upcoming 2028 polls. Gifting barangay officials — who may possibly become ward leaders—with a term extension could ensure their support in the local campaign of incumbent politicians. With at least 2.8 million votes from new registrants at stake, it wouldn’t hurt to enlist community allies this early as well.
The term extension also carries with it the perks, privileges, and powers that barangay and SK officials enjoy to fulfill their mandate of delivering basic community services, fostering local grassroots governance, and ensuring youth participation in barangay affairs.
Depending on the barangay’s income class and local budget, village officials get an honoraria that range from P7,900 for a punong barangay (captain) and P5,900 for the kagawad (councilor), with higher rates in urban centers like Metro Manila. Secretaries and treasurers also receive local honoraria. On top of this are bonuses and cash gifts, medical insurance, and free tuition for the legitimate dependent children of village officials. SK officials meanwhile also enjoy honoraria and stipends, matriculation fees, health coverage, and travel expense reimbursements, among other benefits.
Right of suffrage
Above such emoluments, barangay and SK officials exercise considerable control over the projects and budget of their domain, with the village captain acting as chief executive who enforces laws and ordinances, maintains public order, approves contracts, and oversees other public undertakings for the community.
While a welcome move among elective officials, the BSKE postponement has raised concerns, foremost for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which, according to its chair, George Garcia, has already spent P8 billion on preparations for the elections as of Sept. 18. On a scale of one to 10, “we’re at 9 in our preparations,” Garcia said. “By first week of October, we should already be delivering materials to far-flung areas,” the official said, adding that hopefully, there would be a clear law on the matter before Sept. 28.
It’s a contentious issue, with an August Momentum Research poll indicating that nearly eight of 10 Filipinos want the BSKE to proceed as scheduled this year. Critics meanwhile point out that the postponement violates the Constitution and, according to election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the “people’s right of suffrage.” It’s a stand echoed by Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III who said that the postponement was like “denying voters [their right] to choose their local leaders.”
Political patronage
Add to that concern the numerous cases filed against barangay officials for infractions that include abuses in the distribution of government assistance, delayed honoraria payouts, padded budgets for community projects, unliquidated cash, aid skimming, and anomalous procurement deals. Such infractions certainly demand full accountability instead of another year in office.
The postponement of BSKE is thus an ill-advised move that certainly deserves closer scrutiny. Not only is it a complete waste of public funds—P8 billion already spent for Comelec preparations and another P4 billion for the postponement—it is also an unfair reward for corrupt or underperforming officials whom voters are just raring to boot out of office. Why deprive voters the chance to make their voices heard? Why ignore their chance to choose more worthy candidates for the job, who will deliver better on their mandate?
Rewarding incompetence and allowing incumbent elective officials to buy the loyalty of barangay and SK candidates with a term extension would only open more doors to political patronage, the rot to governance. With 90 percent of preparations already in place, it’s not too late to allow voters to troop to polling precincts this November.
