Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that PHP3 billion of the PHP19 billion budget allocated for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) has been expended in preparation for the upcoming polls scheduled for November 2.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia disclosed in an interview that the funds have been utilized for the procurement of necessary materials. He clarified that the remaining PHP16 billion is still held by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and has not yet been transferred to Comelec. Garcia highlighted that a significant portion of the budget is designated for the honoraria of teachers involved in the election process.

Garcia further explained that 65 percent of the election budget is earmarked for teachers' honoraria and will be disbursed as the elections approach. He assured that the preparations and procurement of BSKE materials would continue without any waste of government funds, even if there is a postponement of the elections.

Garcia noted that in the event of a delay, the printed 90 million ballots would still be valid for use in the rescheduled election. The newly ordered yellow ballot boxes would also remain functional for future elections.

Regarding potential scheduling conflicts with the May 2028 presidential elections, Garcia stated that preparations for the National and Local Elections (NLE) should commence after May 2027 to avoid any issues. He emphasized that the law mandates an election on November 2, and Comelec will proceed with preparations accordingly.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson has suggested reallocating BSKE funds to mitigate the impact of oil price volatility caused by the Middle East conflict.