Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will first study the proposal to postpone the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) before making any stand on the issue, Malaca±ang said Tuesday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the President could not immediately support or reject the proposal without first determining why the elections need to be postponed.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro emphasized the importance of understanding the proposal thoroughly. 'Sa ngayon po ay dapat mabasa muna kung anuman po ang kanilang panukala (For now, the President must first read whatever proposal they have),' Castro said during a Palace briefing. She further noted that the President could not immediately agree, nor disagree, until the necessity and reasons for the postponement are clearly outlined.

Bills seeking to postpone the 2026 BSKE and to extend the terms of barangay and SK officials have been filed in both chambers of Congress. Among the reasons cited for the postponement is the ongoing energy emergency due to the Middle East crisis. Castro, however, mentioned that any proposal using the energy crisis as justification must provide a clear basis for such a move.

'Siguro mas maganda po kung ma-justify talaga na dahil sa krisis ng enerhiya dapat i-postpone ng ilang taon (Perhaps it would be better if it is properly justified why the elections should be postponed for several years because of the energy crisis),' she said. Furthermore, the proposal has not been discussed at the recent Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting with the President, according to Castro.

The BSKE has previously been postponed through legislation, with the latest postponement moving the elections to November 2026.