(PNA file photo)
BAGUIO CITY – The presidents of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation here called on their fellow officials to remain focused on serving their constituents following the signing of the law extending their terms.
Councilor Rocky Aliping, ABC Federation president, reminded village leaders that performance, not tenure, will ultimately determine their fate in future elections.
“Extended or not, we should continue doing our mandate to serve the people,” Aliping said.
“At the end of the day, it is the constituents who will decide if we should continue or end our service.”
On Wednesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) for the government to focus on the first-ever parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Republic Act No. 12232 reschedules the supposed Dec. 1 BSKE to the first Monday of November 2026.
The regular BSKE shall be held every four years thereafter.
Aliping acknowledged concerns that a four-year term may be too long for non-performing officials, but he said those who actively fulfill their duties will benefit from the extended mandate.
SK Federation president Councilor John Rey Mananeng admitted that he would have preferred elections were not moved since he is already overaged.
Still, he urged SK officials to keep working, especially with youth representation in Baguio facing gaps.
Mananeng said 19 villages currently have no SK councils while 67 others have incomplete memberships.
This, he warned, hampers youth profiling and leaves millions in unused SK funds idle.
Mananeng also highlighted youth concerns, including mental health and bullying.
The SK plans to partner with parents, teachers, and the Baguio Mental Health Council for training sessions, while also pushing for stronger youth support in legislation banning online gambling promotions in the city.
Aliping and Mananeng stressed the critical role barangays play in disaster response, anti-bullying campaigns, and implementing programs from the national to the city government level.
“There is a lot that we need to do,” Aliping said.
“We cannot sit back and relax. We need to work as required of barangay officials.” (PNA)