Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Residents arrive to cast their votes for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Taguig City on October 30, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178599281447120231030-bske-barangay-rizal-taguig-jc7763.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Residents arrive to cast their votes for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Taguig City on October 30, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — More than 60 House members are backing a bill to postpone the November 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, saying the &quot;energy emergency&quot; and high fuel prices make holding the polls too expensive.They want the elections moved to November 2028, which will extend the terms of current barangay officials by two years.An elections watchdog said this will &quot;dilute accountability&quot; and make further delays in holding often postponed local polls more likely.Supporters of House Bill 10591 said &quot;appropriations, contracts, and operational assumptions&quot; for the village-level polls do not take the effects of the war that the US and Israeli started with Iran in February into account.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/8/3/ltfrb-eyes-interim-fare-hike-p20-fuel-subsidy-for-all-puvs-amid-rising-fuel-prices-1544">LTFRB eyes interim fare hike, P20 fuel subsidy for all PUVs amid rising oil prices </a></div>“Conducting the elections without an adequate and realistically calibrated appropriation may impair procurement, reduce logistical coverage, delay the deployment of election materials. and compromise the compensation and support required by Electoral Boards,&quot; they said.They said public emergencies can justify poll postponement and that their proposal “responds to supervening conditions&quot; that cast doubt on whether the country can hold &quot;safe, uniform, and credible&quot; elections in November. House Bill 10584 makes a similar proposal and also cites the fuel and energy crisis.Another proposal, House Bill 10583 seeks a shorter postponement — to the last Monday of May 2027 — but also cited costs and the energy crisis.The National Citizens&#x27; Movement for Free Elections is calling on the House to reject the proposals, saying &quot;regular, predictable leadership cycles are the ultimate check and balance in Philippine grassroots governance.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/8/4/trump-says-iran-facing-last-chance-before-decapitation-0851">Trump says Iran facing &#x27;last chance before decapitation&#x27;</a></div>It acknowledged economic pressures but said voter rights and accountability need to come first.&quot;Regular elections are not an administrative convenience the State may suspend when budgets tighten,&quot; it said.Namfrel also questioned the timing of holding the polls the same year as the national elections.&quot;Barangay officials are influential mobilizers in national campaigns,&quot; it pointed out.  <div>SENATE BILL </div>Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero has also filed Senate Bill 2387 which seeks to postpone the barangay elections to the fourth Monday of November 2028. It also increases the terms of barangay and youth council officials from the current 4 years to 5 years. Escudero&#x27;s bill makes incumbent barangay officials on their third term ineligible to seek reelection in 2028, as they shall be regarded as having completed one term in their respective positions since their terms are extended by 2 years due to the postponement.&quot;Such intervention would promote continuity in governance, provide sufficient time for community development initiatives, reduce disruptions caused by frequent electoral exercises, and enable local officials to focus on public service rather than on electoral cycles,&quot; Escudero said in his explanatory note.  The bill was filed electronically. The Senate called off work on Thursday due to the weather.<div>— Vivienne Gulla and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</div>

More than 60 House members are backing a bill to postpone the November 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, saying the "energy emergency" and high fuel prices make holding the polls too expensive.

More than 60 House members are backing a bill to postpone the November 2 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, saying the "energy emergency" and high fuel prices make holding the polls too expensive.

Citing fuel prices, House members seek to move barangay polls to 2028

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Citing fuel prices, House members seek to move barangay polls to 2028

ABS-CBN News

Published August 06, 2026 01:19 PM PHT

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Updated August 06, 2026 03:53 PM PHT

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Barangay and Sangguinang Kabataan Elections

Namfrel

House of Representatives

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