THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) declared its full operational readiness on Tuesday, Aug. 4, for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Nov. 2, 2026, disclosing that ₱8 billion of its ₱19 billion total budget allocation has already been disbursed for early preparation and supplies.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Acacia Hotel in Davao City, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia assured that they are moving forward with scheduled preparations while remaining open to congressional deliberations regarding any proposed legislative amendments.
“We are prepared for Nov. 2. Even if there are proposed bills, we will participate in the deliberations and hearings called by Congress to offer our perspective, experiences, and official position,” Garcia said in Tagalog. “We are prepared to conduct the elections on Nov. 2.”
₱11-Billion balance and breakdown
Garcia clarified that of the total ₱19-billion BSKE budget, ₱8 billion has already been spent on procuring critical supplies, election materials, and securing ballot printing operations.
The remaining ₱11 billion remains with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and is strictly earmarked for field personnel and logistical operations:
- ₱9 billion for the honoraria and allowances of Electoral Board (EB) members
- ₱1 billion for nationwide training of public school teachers serving as poll workers
- ₱1 billion for transportation and deployment logistics
To encourage higher voter turnout and facilitate smooth travel for provincial voters, Garcia revealed that he sponsored an en banc resolution requesting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare Nov. 3 as a special non-working holiday.
“Nov. 2 will fall on a day when people vote, but many travel back to their home provinces. Having Nov. 3 declared as a non-working day will give voters sufficient time to cast their votes on Nov. 2 without rushing back,” Garcia explained.
Addressing concerns over potential government funds being wasted should Congress pass legislation to postpone the BSKE, Garcia emphasized that election paraphernalia and materials were procured with long shelf lives.
He noted that supplies such as official ballpens and indelible ink have a minimum shelf life of one year, while printed ballots can be officially repurposed for a rescheduled date through a Comelec en banc resolution.
“Nothing will be wasted. The supplies, ballpens, and indelible ink we ordered do not dry up for a year. If the elections are postponed, Comelec will simply issue a resolution directing that the printed ballots and materials be used for the reset date,” Garcia assured.
