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Saturday, February 22, 2025
26.2 C
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Saturday, February 22, 2025

Gov’t needs P2.5b for BARMM polls

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The Commission on Elections ( Comelec) would need P2.5 billion for the separate elections of the Bangsamoro Parliament originally scheduled on May 12 but was instead proposed to move the elections to October 13.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said that the resetting and postponement of the BARMM elections would mean a special election will be held in five months and will need separate equipment, teachers, and ballots.

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Garcia said holding the BARMM polls synchronously with the national and local elections will save funds.

The poll body also deferred the printing of at least 2.5 million ballots for the BARMM elections after  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified as urgent the proposed measure postponing the Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections.

However, the Comelec expressed hope that the BARMM parliamentary elections would push through so they could continue preparing for the polls.

Garcia also noted that the poll body will need to assess whether the rescheduling of the election will require the reopening of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Senate Bill No. 2942, or a bill seeking to reset the parliamentary elections to October 13, 2025, is now certified as urgent by the President.

Senators are hopeful that the House of Representatives will adopt the Senate version of the bill postponing BARMM polls, which reflects the preferred timeline of the Executive Branch, Senator Francis Escudero said.

“I don’t know, but I would hope so given that we carried the preferred period of the Executive Branch, which, in turn, was the product of much debate and discussion principally among our security and election officials,” Escudero said in a Viber message to reporters.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, who sponsored the bill, emphasized the importance of coordination between the Senate and Malacañang on the matter.

Ejercito said the discussions centered on a five- to six-month postponement, but senators eventually settled on five months.

The version that was approved by the House seeks to defer the BARMM polls for a period of one year.

Lawmakers aim to finalize the measure before Congress goes on recess on Feb. 7

Ejercito outlined the timeline, noting that the bill is set for final approval in the Senate on Monday, followed by a one-day bicameral conference on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to postpone the BARMM elections, originally scheduled for May 12, 2025, in response to concerns raised by security and election officials. 

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