The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is set to request an additional ₱1.3 billion from the Senate to cover the costs of conducting the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, which have been moved to 2026 following their postponement.
According to COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the poll body will send a formal letter to Senator Win Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, to seek supplemental funding.
“Susulat kami kay Senator Gatchalian… baka sakaling mahabol pa namin ang karagdagang budget patungkol dito sa Bangsamoro,” Garcia said.
Garcia also revealed that about ₱1.2 billion in government funds have already been spent before the Supreme Court (SC) declared Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts 58 and 77 unconstitutional, effectively postponing the elections originally set for October 13.
Of the total amount, more than ₱500 million was used for the printing of 2.3 million official ballots.
Under the SC’s directive, the COMELEC must proceed with the elections no later than March 31, 2026, while the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has been ordered to complete the redistricting process before October 30, 2025.