Manila: The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is advocating for the recent postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from December 2025 to November 2026 to be the last deferral of the polls. Evelyn Singson, chairperson of the PPCRV, stated in a radio interview that this should be the final delay, emphasizing the importance of conducting barangay elections regularly as a cornerstone of the nation’s democratic process.
According to Philippines News Agency, Singson highlighted that frequent extensions of the terms of elected barangay officials could undermine accountability and diminish public trust. She stressed the necessity of maintaining the sanctity of the democratic process through the certainty of regular elections. Furthermore, she underscored the importance of ensuring that elected officials serve only within their rightful mandate, allowing their performance to be evaluated through regular and fixed electoral intervals.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act 12232, which officially moves the December 2025 BSKE to the first Monday of November 2026. This legislation stipulates that subsequent regular BSKEs will occur every four years thereafter. Meanwhile, the PPCRV has expressed its support for prioritizing efforts of government agencies, especially the Commission on Elections (Comelec), to ensure orderliness, integrity, and peace in the upcoming first-ever Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) set for October 13, 2025, recognizing its potential impact on the nation’s democratic stability.
Singson clarified that while the focus on the BARMM Parliamentary Elections is warranted, the repeated postponement of barangay elections could have significant ramifications. She refrained from commenting on the legal aspects of the BSKE deferment, acknowledging the critical importance of the BARMM elections. She affirmed that the Commission on Elections, in collaboration with stakeholders, is fully committed to ensuring the credibility and success of the BARMM elections, given the serious implications for national stability. The rescheduling of the BSKE to November 2026 is intended to provide ample preparation time, representing a one-year postponement.
