Villages to set aside P10k each for polls

CEBU, Philippines - The 22 barangays in Talisay City have agreed to reserve P10,000 for the Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay elections. 

The amount shall be used to defray the expenses of the Board of Election Tellers (BETs) for the transportation allowance in the amount of P500 for each member of the BET; additional honoraria of the members of the BET; and trainings and meetings.

According to Talisay City Comelec officer Gallardo Escobar, the barangay captains need to shoulder the total amount of P1,248,100, as their counterpart.

This after the Commission on Elections, the Commission on Audit, and the city budget office yesterday told barangay captains about the need to set aside not less than P10,000 but not more than 10 percent of the available general fund for the election.

Earlier, the ABC expressed disagreement with regards the proposed sharing scheme by the Comelec.

But State Auditor II Angelita Saniel told the barangay captains that they are obligated take part in the sharing for the success of the election next month as it is provided in the resolution of the Comelec.

“Pangitaan gyud ninyo og pamaagi kay naa man na sa Comelec resolution,” Saniel said.

The funding will be sourced from the 10 per centum of the general fund of barangays which has been reserved and set aside for the SK.

The ABC approved last month a resolution asking Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to appropriate funds for the sharing scheme.

However, city budget officer Edgar Mabunay said the city has no funds to defray the necessary expenses for the barangay elections.

“If naa pud ta, it will be difficult for us to liquidate,” Mabunay said to the barangay captains. 

The collection of the fund was based by the poll body on the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, the Local Government Code, and Republic Acts 6653, 6679, 8524, 9164, and 9340. (FREEMAN)