Manila: The Marcos administration is proposing a PHP29.5-billion budget for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to support preparations for the 2028 national and local elections (NLE). In a statement Tuesday, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the proposed increase in Comelec's 2027 budget would enable the poll body to carry out its constitutional mandate and ramp up preparations for the 2028 national and local polls.
According to Philippines News Agency, under the FY 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), PHP29.50 billion has been proposed for Comelec, representing an increase of PHP9.31 billion, or 46 percent, from its PHP20.20-billion allocation under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The increase recognizes 2027 as a critical preparatory year for the 2028 National and Local Elections and the need to provide the Commission with sufficient resources to undertake election-related preparations well ahead of the nationwide polls.
On a NEP-to-NEP basis, the proposed 2027 budget for Comelec is PHP17.65 billion higher than the PHP11.85 billion proposed under the 2026 NEP, representing a 149-percent increase. The DBM stated that around PHP23.92 billion of the proposed budget would be earmarked for the Preparatory National and Local Elections (PNLE), higher than the PHP2.87 billion provided for the same purpose in 2026. This provision accommodates Comelec's representation that preparations for the 2028 elections should begin two years ahead of the NLE, instead of the usual preparatory timeline.
Under the regular budget cycle, the substantial PNLE requirements for the 2028 elections would have been programmed beginning in 2027, the year immediately preceding the elections. Nevertheless, the government recognized Comelec's need for an extended preparation period and provided PHP2.87 billion in advance in FY 2026 to allow the Commission to commence preparatory activities earlier.
For 2027, the proposed PHP23.92-billion PNLE allocation is around PHP3 billion, or 14 percent, higher than Comelec's actual PNLE expenditures for the 2025 National and Local Elections, providing the agency with substantial funding as preparations for the 2028 polls move into a more intensive phase. The DBM noted that the Comelec, as a member of the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG), enjoys fiscal autonomy under the Constitution. Comelec's approved annual appropriations are automatically and regularly released, consistent with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
The DBM also highlighted that Comelec may utilize available appropriations and, subject to constitutional and statutory requirements, use savings to augment deficiencies in items within its appropriations. Through the proposed 2027 allocation, the government seeks to ensure that preparations for the 2028 elections are adequately supported while maintaining the prudent, efficient, and accountable use of public funds.
