The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeking additional funds for the holding of the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in March next year.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia yesterday said the poll body has used up most of the P1.2 billion previously allotted for the BARMM election, which was recently postponed and moved from Oct. 13 to March.
He said P500 million ‘has been spent for the printing of official ballots that have gone to waste.’
‘We need additional budget equivalent to or higher than what has been spent to meet all expenses needed,’ Garcia said.
He said the Comelec also spent a part of the budget for the deployment and recall of all election paraphernalia.
The Comelec has yet to set the date of the BARMM election after the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional laws redistricting the autonomous region, effectively postponing the electoral exercises.
The high tribunal gave the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) until Oct. 30 to craft a new districting law.
Garcia said the Comelec would wait for the BTA to finish crafting the new districting law before setting the date of the election, which must be held not later than March.
He said the Comelec is closely coordinating with the BTA concerning updates on the crafting of the new Bangsamoro districting law.