Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__7872

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE ALFREDO B. BENITEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has been the long-standing policy of the State to enable and equip local
government units with the necessary powers “to attain their fullest development as
self-reliant communities and make them more effective partners in the attainment of
national goals.”

The most effective governors are those who spend time and are the closest to
the governed. Elective barangay officials are the closest government officials to our
constituents. They are the first responders, the first to aid, “unang takbuhan.” As
Members of the honorable chamber of the Lower House, we are aware that three (3)
years is too short of a term to affect services and policies that will bring valuable and
meaningful change to the community.

To extend the term limit of elective barangay officials and sangguniang
kabataan is to help the national government unload its already heavy burden on
providing services and reaching out to our people.

Accordingly, | am one with our barangay officials and sangguniang kabataan
‘on empowering and enabling them to affect meaningful and valuable change by giving
them the most precious resource of all, TIME.

\LFREDO B. BENITEZ
34 District, Negrés Occidental


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7872

Introduced by

REPRESENTATIVE ALFREDO B. BENITEZ

AN ACT CHANGING THE TERM OF OFFICE OF ELECTIVE BARANGAY
OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN FROM
THREE (3) YEARS TO FIVE (5) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9164 AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NOS. 9340,
10632, 10656, 10923, 10952 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Section 1. Section 1 of Republic Act (RA) No. 9164, as amended by RA Nos.
9340, 10632, 10656, 10923, and 10952, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Section 1. Date of Election. - There shall be synchronized
barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections which shall be held on
July 15, 2002. Subsequent synchronized barangay and sangguniang
kabataan elections shall be held on the last Monday of October 2007 and
every three (3) years thereafter. Provided, That the barangay and
sangguniang kabataan elections on October 23, 2017 shall be postponed
to the second Monday of May 2018. Subsequent synchronized barangay
and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held on the second
Monday of May 2020 and every five (5) years thereafter.”

Section 2. Section 1 of RA No. 9164 is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

Section 2. Term of Office. ~The term of office of all barangay and
sangguniang kabataan officials after the effectivity of this Act shall be five
(5) years.

No barangay elective official shall serve for more than two (2)
consecutive terms in the same position: Provided, however, That the
term of office shall be reckoned from the 1994 barangay elections.
Voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time shall not be
considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term
for which the elective official was elected.


Section 3. implementing Rules and Regulations. The Commission on
Elections shall promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement this
Act.

Section 4. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such sections or parts not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. — All decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect immediately
following the completion of its publication either. In the Official Gazette or in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.