National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) representative Eric Jude Alvia criticized proposals extending barangay officials’ terms to five years, describing the policy as lacking empirical basis or governance studies.
Alvia noted that local terms were previously increased from three to four years following prior postponements, with current proposals seeking five-year tenures before earlier legislation has been fully tested.
He stated that longer tenures provide no guarantee of improved public service and expressed concern that repeated postponements disenfranchise youth candidates seeking to run for Sangguniang Kabataan positions due to statutory age limits.
