President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed on into law on Friday, a bill postponing this year's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to 2028.

In his Facebook post, Marcos directed the local government officials to use their additional time in office to improve public service.

"With our signing of Republic Act No. 12326, which sets a five-year term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, our expectations of our current officials are clear," he said.

"Use this time to further improve services, complete the programs that have been started and focus more closely on the needs of every community, family and young person," he added.

In an interview with reporters on Friday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia said the new law has fixed the term of barangay and SK officials from four to five years.

"The election will no longer be on November 2 but instead in the 2nd week of November 2028," he said.

Garcia said following the signing of the law, the Comelec will cancel all preparations related to the local poll, including filing the certificate of candidacy that is supposed to start next Monday.

"We will be releasing a resolution later to cancel all preparations for the barangay and SK elections, which means that the filing of candidacy will no longer proceed from Monday, September 28 until October 5," he said.

Garcia said under the newly signed law the P10.9 billion remaining budget for BSKE should be used by the Comelec in its preparation for the 2028 national and local elections.

He said so far around eight billion pesos were spent for preparing for the supposed BSKE this year.

Garcia also announced that the voter registration will again be open starting the second week of November until July 20, 2027. Robina Asido/PHS