ORMOC CITY -- Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez has urged Congress to immediately pass legislation postponing the scheduled 2 November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to the last Monday of November 2028.

House Bill No. 10591, co-authored by Gomez, cites the impact of the ongoing international energy crisis on election logistics and public expenditures as key reasons to defer the polls to ensure an orderly process.

Gomez welcomed the recent filing of a counterpart measure in the Senate, calling it a sign of growing bipartisan support for the delay.

"I am hopeful that both the House of Representatives and the Senate will act decisively on this measure," Gomez said. "When both chambers recognize the urgency of an issue, we move one step closer to meaningful and responsible legislation."

The lawmaker stressed that delaying the polls would protect electoral integrity and allow the government to optimize resources during a period of economic uncertainty.

"The strength of our democracy is measured not by how quickly we hold elections, but by how credible, orderly, and inclusive those elections are," Gomez said. "This is a measure that puts the national interest and the Filipino people first."

Congress has periodically moved local village elections in previous cycles to reallocate state funds and align local administrative terms.