SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
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'16 
AUG 17 
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SENATE
S. B. No. I (Jtl 7
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO
AN ACT RESETTING THE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS AND 
EXTENDING THE TERM OF OFFICE OF ELECTIVE BARANGAY OFFICIALS TO FIVE (S) YEARS 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9 1 6 4 , AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
9 3 4 0  AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1 0 6 5 6 , AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Barangay is the most basic and fundamental political subdivision within the structure of 
Philippine government As such, it deserves no less than primordial consideration in our efforts to 
craft, improve and strengthen our laws, rules and procedures pertaining to the local government 
system. Barangays are given so much responsibility, yet they perennially suffer from lack of funds, 
authority and personnel training, among others. The need to strengthen the Barangay as an 
instrument of genuine and meaningful reform is therefore glaring.
The postponement of the upcoming synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) 
elections is prudent, nay, imperative, for at least five (5) clear reasons:
(1) 
It will enable all government agencies and political subdivisions to focus their full 
support for and efforts towards winning the war against illegal drugs and 
criminality in the country.
(2) 
It will afford the legislature ample time to amend, strengthen and improve the 
Local Government Code of 1991’s provisions on effective barangay governance.
(3) 
It will save the country billions of pesos that can instead be devoted to the 
delivery of social services, especially if a plebiscite for Federalism will be held in 
2018 or 2019.
(4) 
It will give the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) sufficient time to prepare for 
said elections and the Filipino electorate ample time to discern how to 
intelligently cast their votes.
(5) 
It will enable incumbent barangay and SK officials to effectively continue their 
projects and programs and to amend or re-align their initiatives in accordance 
with the thrusts of the new Administration.
Firstly. The proposed measure resetting the said synchronized elections originally scheduled to be 
held on October 31, 2016 to the last Monday of October 2018, or two (2) years later, will give the 
executive branch every opportunity to succeed in its drive against illegal drugs and criminality. 
Elections are held in order for qualified citizens to be able to exercise their right of suffrage, thus 
ensuring their active participation in the country's governance. However, in light of the ongoing 
war against illegal drugs and criminality being waged by the Duterte Administration, a war which 
must be fully supported by all national government agencies down to the barangay level if it is to be 
won, it is but prudent to postpone the said elections to two (2) years later than the original date 
therefor. To hold said elections now would complicate matters concerning the government’s 
crackdown on illegal drugs, especially if barangay officials linked to said illicit activities will claim 
political motivations/election-related reasons behind such accusations. Standard prohibited 
activities during elections and election bans will also hamper reforms being undertaken in the 
government.