Imee: Senate to look for funds, Comelec needs to cut on requests

Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday said the Senate would look for ways to augment the 2024 budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), but asked the poll body to  cut down on its requests for funds.

The additional funds sought is meant for the Comelec's preparation for the 2025 midterm polls as well as the automation of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in the same year.

However, Marcos warned the poll body that the Senate also had to prioritize other important matters such as aid to the areas affected by Typhoon Egay.

“Hahanapan namin ng karagdagang budget pero alam naman natin ang sitwasyon ngayon ang daming nangangailangan lalo na 'yung binagyo sa Ilocos,” Marcos said during the Kapihan sa Senado when asked if she will support the budget request when it reaches the Senate.

(We will look for funds for the supplemental budget but we know the situation. Many are in dire need of assistance particularly those hit by the typhoon in Ilocos.) 

“Kinakailangan bawas-bawasan naman nila ang hingi. Alam naman nila ang hirap e,” she added.

(They need to cut down on their requests. They know the difficult situation.)

Reacting to Marcos’ remark, Comelec Chairman George Garcia told GMA News Online that the Comelec would just conduct manual elections in the 2025 BSKE if Congress would not grant its request for a supplemental budget.

“In our case, we will not ask for a supplemental budget. The BSKE 2025 is still manual and not automated unless Congress will say otherwise in which case that is the only tme we will be needing a preparatory budget for 2024 just like the NLE 2025,” Garcia said.

Last week, Garcia said they might need a supplemental budget for 2024 as their budget proposal next year only requested funds for the preparation of the 2025 national and local elections.

Since the Supreme Court ruled that there would be a BSKE in December 2025, Garcia said they would need additional budget for its conduct.

“Ang sinubmit naming budget para sa 2024… ay para sa preparatory sa (2025) national and local elections…which is automated. Biglang nagka-Supreme Court decision after the submission and at that time, nagpi-print na ng budget and DBM for submission sa Congress by the president after the SONA. Ang tanong ngayon ay paano maihahabol ang preparatory for the BSKE kung ang BSKE ay gagawing automated din?” Garcia earlier said.

The Comelec chief also noted that both Congress and the poll body are eyeing to automate the BSKE which will succeed the October 30,2023 village and youth council polls.

“Hindi namin ma-update ‘yung budget na ni-request sa DBM because na print na. Kung saka-sakali, the Comelec will be asking for a supplemental budget... if Congress will push us to conduct the BSKE in 2025 by using automation or using the automated system. So kailangan mag-supplemental kami kung saka sakali,” he explained.

(We weren't able to update the budget requested from the DBM because it has already been printed. If ever, the Comelec will be asking for a supplemental budget... if Congress will push up to conduct the BSKE in 2025 by using automation or using the automated system. We need a supplemental budget if that will be the case.)

According to Garcia, the budget for an automated BSKE would be almost the same as the amount that would be necessary for the automated national and local elections in 2025.

An automated national and local elections will cost around P25 billion as they will lease more or less 128,00 machines to cater to the estimated 71 million voters in 2025, he said.

If the BSKE will be held through manual election, Garcia said the poll body would need P12 billion, P6.5 billion of which will be spent for the honoraria of the teachers who will serve during the polls.  —LDF/NB, GMA Integrated News