By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – A possible simultaneous holding of a plebiscite for Charter amendments and the midterm polls in 2025 will save the government some PHP13 billion in funds, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.
“If it will be held separately, we will need PHP13 billion because it will involve national and overseas voters. It is like holding another Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. But if we hold it simultaneously, there will be no additional expenses. No additional expenditures in supplies and other paraphernalia,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in an interview.
However, he said they would need additional funds for an increase in the honoraria of the teachers in the Electoral Board (EB).
“We may ask the government for at least an additional PHP2,000 for every teacher serving on Election Day. If we have 1 million teachers, it may require PHP2 billion in funds,” Garcia said.
On Monday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants the plebiscite to ratify the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution to be held simultaneously with the May 2025 midterm polls.
Garcia said they can hold both electoral exercises simultaneously next year. (PNA)
