Comelec seeks return of P9.1 billion budget cut

CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked Congress to restore P9.12 billion removed from its proposed 2027 budget, warning that the funding reduction could leave the poll body short of thousands of vote-counting machines needed for the 2028 national and local elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia raised the concern during a House budget hearing on Tuesday, saying the commission had sought P52.66 billion for 2027 but received a significantly lower recommendation from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The proposed allocation was reduced to about P44.7 billion, with roughly P9 billion in cuts affecting funds intended for preparations for the 2028 elections.

Garcia said the reduced funding could result in a shortage of about 9,310 election counting machines. The Comelec expects around 74 million registered voters by 2028 and plans to deploy 124,310 machines, including units intended as contingency reserves.

A shortage of machines could force the commission to assign more voters to each precinct, potentially resulting in longer waiting times on election day. The Comelec has been targeting about 600 voters per precinct.

Garcia said the funding gap could also affect other election preparations, including the printing of ballots, voter information materials and election forms, as well as the transport and deployment of machines and supplies.

The commission had requested about P3.2 billion for printing requirements, including official ballots and voter information sheets. However, only P348 million was included in the proposed allocation, according to Garcia.

The budget reduction could also delay Comelec's planned start of the printing process in 2027. Garcia said procurement may instead begin in January 2028, leaving the poll body with less time to address potential problems before election day.

Other election-related activities that could be affected include the leasing of warehouses and venues, technical support for the automated election system, training of personnel and the verification of polling places.

The DBM likewise did not include funding for the Comelec's proposed capital outlay, which covers physical facilities and other long-term assets.

Garcia said the commission's budget should take into account the growing number of voters and the increasing logistical requirements of national elections, rather than being based primarily on allocations from previous election cycles.

Meanwhile, the poll body is considering moving the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2028 elections to Sept. 20 to 27, 2027, earlier than the usual October schedule.

Garcia said an earlier filing period would give the commission more time to review candidacies and resolve possible challenges before ballots are printed. It would also allow ballot printing to begin earlier, reducing the risk of having to reprint ballots because of late changes or court orders. — Philippine Star News Service/FPL (FREEMAN)