Baguio: The presidents of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation have urged their fellow officials to maintain their focus on serving constituents following the enactment of legislation extending their terms.
According to Philippines News Agency, Councilor Rocky Aliping, president of the ABC Federation, emphasized to village leaders that their performance, rather than their extended tenure, will ultimately influence their prospects in future elections. Aliping stated, "Extended or not, we should continue doing our mandate to serve the people. 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 a law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). This decision allows the government to concentrate on the inaugural parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The newly signed Republic Act No. 12232 reschedules the originally planned December 1 BSKE to the first Monday of November 2026, with regular BSKEs to occur every four years thereafter.
While acknowledging concerns about the potential length of the four-year term for non-performing officials, Aliping pointed out that those who diligently fulfill their responsibilities will benefit from this extended mandate. Meanwhile, SK Federation president Councilor John Rey Mananeng expressed a preference for not postponing elections, citing his own overage status. Nevertheless, he urged SK officials to continue their efforts, especially given the challenges in youth representation in Baguio. Mananeng highlighted that 19 villages currently lack SK councils, and 67 others have incomplete memberships, which hampers youth profiling and leaves substantial SK funds unused.
Mananeng also brought attention to key youth issues, such as mental health and bullying. The SK plans to collaborate with parents, teachers, and the Baguio Mental Health Council for training sessions, while also advocating for enhanced youth support in legislation to ban online gambling promotions in the city.
Both Aliping and Mananeng underscored the vital role that barangays play in disaster response, anti-bullying initiatives, and the implementation of programs from the national to the city government level. Aliping concluded, "There is a lot that we need to do. We cannot sit back and relax. We need to work as required of barangay officials."
