President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he will be signing into law the bill postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to allow the government to fully concentrate on the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.

In a forum on Friday evening, Marcos emphasized the historic and political significance of the BARMM elections, scheduled for October 2025, which will mark the first-ever democratic selection of a regional parliament in the Bangsamoro region.

He noted that preparing for both the BARMM elections as well as Barangay and SK polls scheduled in December would overstretch the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and divert attention and resources from ensuring the success of the landmark BARMM vote.

“COMELEC themselves are saying, ‘We can’t handle it.’ Because we need to focus on the BARMM,” he said. 

The President underscored the critical role the BARMM vote plays in solidifying the peace process in Mindanao, warning that a failure of the election would be a major setback for efforts to stabilize and develop the region.

“You have to remember, the upcoming BARMM election in October is the first time we’ve ever had this kind of election. Ever. In the entire history of the Philippines, there has never been a BARMM Parliament elected by the people. That’s why it’s so important,” the President continued.

Further, Marcos emphasized that a failure of the BARMM elections would be a major blow to the peace process in Mindanao.

“If that election fails, it would be a big deal — a major failure in the peace process. That’s why it’s absolutely necessary for the BARMM elections to succeed. And that’s why we’re really, really focusing on it,” President Marcos stressed.

He also addressed legal concerns regarding the postponement, referencing a Supreme Court decision that prohibits the shortening of barangay officials’ terms. According to Marcos, the current move would not conflict with that ruling, as it effectively extends — not cut short — the current terms.

“With a view to the Supreme Court decision that we cannot shorten the term of the barangay officials, we are actually lengthening the term of the barangay officials. So that's not in conflict,” Marcos said.

“So I think the most sensible and the most common-sense solution is to postpone” the Barangay and SK elections.”

The bill, once signed, will formally move the Barangay and SK elections to a later date, which the administration says will help ensure the integrity and success of the landmark BARMM vote.