QC allots P20 million for barangay, SK polls

The Quezon City Council has given the city government the green light to set aside a supplemental budget of P20.78 million to cover the maintenance and other operating expenses during the conduct of the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct 29.

Council Majority leader Ariel Inton said the ordinance providing for the coming election was certified as urgent by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as provided for in the omnibus election code that empowers local government units to appropriate funds to defray necessary expenses of the board election tellers, installation of polling booths and other expenses.

“The minority and the majority members of the city council crossed party lines to approve the supplemental budget requested by Mayor Belmonte to ensure a clean, honest and orderly election,” Inton said.

Inton justified the passage of the ordinance since the funds given by the Commission on Elections to the city government is only for teachers pay and not enough to cover other expenses.

About 2,272 barangay and SK positions will be contested in Quezon City during the Oct. 29 polls, Inton said.   – Perseus Echeminada