This early, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s Local Government Academy ( LGA) is ramping up preparations for the Barangay Newly Elected Officials (BNEO) Program ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled on November 6.

During the DILG Kapihan media forum held at the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) Head Office in Quezon City, the Local Government Academy (LGA), represented by Asst. Director Daphne Purnell, said preparations are underway for the BNEO by ensuring that DILG regional offices and partner institutions are ready to train newly elected barangay officials by January 2027. Printed reference materials will also be distributed to barangays and local functionaries.

“Ito ay isang programa na term-based. Ibig sabihin, magsisimula po sa orientation pero merong mga localized at needs-based training programs din na iko-conduct,” she said, stating that BNEO build on the gains of the LGA’s NEO PLUS program, which covered all local government units nationwide in 2025.

NEO PLUS is a term-based training program for elected local officials aimed at strengthening leadership competencies and policy-making performance to improve service delivery.

For 2026, the LGA said the program will shift toward specialized interventions tailored to the mandates of LGU officials, while closely monitoring the implementation of action plans developed during the 2025 sessions.

Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12232, which postponed the BSKE to the first Monday of November 2026 and extended the term of office of barangay and SK officials to four years.

The LGA said sustained capacity development remains a priority to ensure barangay officials are prepared to deliver responsive and effective services following the BSKE.