Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Tuesday urged the House committee on local government to endorse his proposal for a five-year term of office for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officers as contained in House Bill No. 7123 that he filed last February.

In a statement, Rodriguez said it would not be fair for village officials to be elected in October this year to have a shortened tenure of only two years following the Supreme Court ruling that Republic Act No. 11935, which postponed the grassroots polls from Dec. 5, 2022 to Oct. 30, 2023, is unconstitutional.

“Let’s give all of those to be voted this year and succeeding elections a uniform term of office of five years, instead of those to be voted in October having a two-year tenure, and those to be elected in 2025 enjoying three years,” he said.

He also said barangay and SK officials who would win in the Oct. 30 election “should not suffer for the decision of Congress” to postpone the Dec. 5 polls.

“Let us correct our error by fixing a five-year term of office for all grassroots officers to be elected beginning in October. I urge the committee on local government to support my proposal,” he added.

HB 7123 would amend Section 43 of the Local Government Code, under which barangay and SK officials enjoy a three-year term of office.

Under the proposed measure, the term of office of barangay officials and SK members shall be for five years. The three-consecutive term limit is retained.

In proposing a longer tenure, Rodriguez said the three-year term “is too short a time for the unity and stability in barangay leadership and affairs.”

“It is not enough to ensure that the programs of the barangay are carried out properly, especially considering the fact that it cannot be denied that the last year of the term is basically used for campaigning,” he said.

He said the extended term “would ensure more stability in the barangay level and ensure that the programs initiated by the current leaders would come to fruition.”

Rodriguez, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, likewise pointed out that less frequent elections would lessen discord among the population.

“It is common knowledge that elections, whether national, local or barangay, prove to be divisive among the populace. Candidates and their supporters try to destroy their opponents by using any means necessary just to be able to secure victory,” he said. (PNA)