The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia on Wednesday warned that postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) could result in the waste of PHP8 billion already spent on preparations.
He added that the calls to postpone polls, scheduled for Nov. 2, 2026, are political in nature and should be left to Congress.
“We simply state that the Comelec has already spent PHP8 billion. Our budget for the BSKE is PHP19 billion, leaving a balance of PHP11 billion. Of that, PHP9 billion is allocated for teachers’ honoraria, PHP1 billion for training, and PHP1 billion for deployment expenses,” Garcia said at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.
“So, regarding that PHP8 billion, it would truly go to waste if the November elections do not proceed,” he added.
Garcia said the Comelec is fully prepared to conduct the BSKE, noting that much of the PHP8 billion has gone to equipment and other preparations.
“Some of that will be wasted—ballpens and indelible ink can dry out. While the printed ballots could potentially be used later if the election is postponed, we have already incurred overtime costs for personnel that cannot be recovered. Those expenses would be for nothing if a postponement occurs,” he said.
Garcia stressed that Congress, rather than the poll body, has the final say on whether the elections will proceed.
“That is a highly political issue. We cannot interfere in that matter. What we want to convey is that the Comelec is fully prepared to conduct the elections on Nov. 2,” he said.
“We do not concern ourselves with the rumors or proposals suggesting the elections might not push through,” he added.
If approved, the postponement would be the second time the grassroots elections have been deferred, Garcia said.
“There was an election in 2023; there should have been another in 2025, but the BSKE was reset to 2026. That is entirely within Congress’ discretion,” he said.
Garcia maintained that the elections should proceed as scheduled, citing the importance of regular polls in ensuring certainty in governance and leadership transitions.
“Having regular elections is crucial. Postponements create uncertainty in governance. When you are in office, you might not know if your term has actually ended. At the same time, the public becomes impatient for a change in leadership, especially if they are frustrated with the current official who ought to be replaced; this leads to instability,” he said.
He also cited the value of fixed terms, saying postponements waste not only public funds but also the time and effort invested in election preparations.
“That is the benefit of fixed terms—such as the six-year terms for the President, Vice President, and Senators—because there is certainty regarding either a change in leadership or the retention of the incumbent. That is my personal view, not necessarily my stance as an election administrator,” Garcia said.
“It is also a waste of preparations. It is exhausting, too; so much preparation goes into it, only for it to be postponed. But ultimately, it remains a political question. The Comelec cannot do anything about it. It’s really them—the legislative and executive branches—who will decide,” he added.
Senator Francis Escudero has filed a measure seeking to extend the term of office of barangay and SK officials from four to five years, while a similar bill has been filed in the House of Representatives seeking to postpone the Nov. 2 elections to 2028. (PNA)