Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia warned on Wednesday that postponing the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) would result in ₱8 billion worth of election preparations going to waste.
Garcia clarified that while the poll body remains fully prepared to conduct the elections on November 2, any decision to reschedule the vote is a political matter that rests entirely with Congress.
Out of the total ₱19-billion budget allocated for the BSKE, COMELEC has already disbursed P8 billion on equipment, logistical arrangements, and administrative operations. The remaining ₱11-billion balance includes ₱9 billion reserved for teachers’ honoraria, ₱1 billion for training programs, and ₱1 billion for deployment costs.
During a media forum, Garcia outlined the breakdown of the current spending:
“We simply state that the Comelec has already spent ₱8 billion. Our budget for the BSKE is ₱19 billion, leaving a balance of ₱11 billion. Of that, ₱9 billion is allocated for teachers’ honoraria, ₱1 billion for training, and ₱1 billion for deployment expenses,” Garcia said in an media forum.
“So, regarding that ₱8 billion, it would truly go to waste if the November elections do not proceed,” he added.
Garcia explained that a delay would destroy perishable items and lead to unrecoverable financial losses:
“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.
Despite these operational risks, Garcia reiterated that the agency will not intervene in legislative deliberations regarding the timing of the polls.
“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 Congress passes a law to delay the elections, it will mark the second time this specific cycle has been moved.
“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.
Speaking from a personal standpoint, Garcia advocated for predictable election cycles, emphasizing that fixed terms prevent leadership uncertainty and promote administrative stability.
“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.
“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.
Legislative proposals to alter the election timeline are currently moving through both chambers of Congress.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has introduced a bill seeking to lengthen the term of barangay and SK officials from four years to five, while a counterpart bill in the House of Representatives proposes pushing the scheduled November 2 elections back to 2028.