MANILA, Philippines — Following the approval of the P2.7-billion budget, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will soon start preparing for the conduct of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved in principle the P2.7-billion budget for the BARMM polls. He said the poll body needs to submit the financial plan for the electoral exercises slated on Oct. 13.
“The budget will not entirely go to the Comelec. It’s important to prepare early for the BARMM elections,” Garcia said yesterday.
He said the Comelec would allocate a part of the budget for the additional honorarium of teachers who will serve as members of the electoral board.
Garcia gave assurance that the recent change in the BARMM leadership would not affect the conduct of the elections.
He expressed hope that the change in the BARMM leadership would hasten the passage of a law for the distribution of seats originally allotted for Sulu.