MANILA — Malacañang said it is open to proposals seeking to postpone the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), as some lawmakers push the measure to help the government save funds amid the ongoing energy crisis linked to tensions in the Middle East.

In a press briefing in Iloilo City, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is willing to consider any proposal that would benefit the country.

“Nabanggit nga po na maaaring makatipid ng 16 billion (It was mentioned that the government could save P16 billion),” she said.

“Kung magkakaroon po sila ng anumang bill… basta po ito’y makakabuti sa ating bansa, open po ang Pangulo para diyan (If there will be any bill… as long as it will benefit the country, the President is open to it),” she added.

Castro said any final decision will still depend on legislation and the President’s review, stressing that the administration remains open to suggestions amid the national energy emergency.

The next BSKE is scheduled for November 2026 after an earlier postponement.

Under Republic Act No. 12232, the originally set December 2025 elections were moved to November 2026, extending the term of barangay and SK officials from three to four years. The law allows barangay officials to serve up to three consecutive terms, while SK officials are limited to one term.

President Marcos earlier defended the postponement, citing concerns raised by the Commission on Elections over the conduct of multiple major elections and emphasizing the importance of the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliament elections.

He said ensuring the success of the Bangsamoro polls is crucial to sustaining the peace process in Mindanao.

“Kung mag-fail iyon… malaking failure ‘yan sa peace process (If that fails… it would be a major failure in the peace process),” he said.

Barangay and SK elections have been repeatedly postponed in recent years, including the 2020 BSKE, which was moved to December 2022 and later to October 2023 to allow budget realignment for pandemic recovery.