The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the government would need between P1 billion to P3 billion should Congress defer the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections scheduled for May 2025.
“It will be more expensive if it is an automated election, which can reach P3 billion… We would spend less in conducting the BARMM on May 12, 2025, along with the national and local elections, because we will be using the same paraphernalia and machines to count votes and give honoraria to the same teachers,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.
“But we are always ready. We always have a Plan B. But, I’ll be very honest and direct. Postponing the BARMM will be costly,” he added.
Meanwhile, the poll chairman appealed to Congress to settle whether it would push for the deferment of the BARMM polls before the second week of December.
“The Comelec has only one appeal: This is not to put pressure on Congress but the truth is, I hope there will be development whether or not the elections will push through because Comelec still needs to print ballots by the last week of December,” Garcia said in a Viber message.
