The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced Tuesday that preparations are nearly complete for the March 14 special election in Antipolo City’s Second District, with the printing of manual ballots expected to finish within the week.
COMELEC chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body is largely ready, citing support from local and national agencies to ensure smooth conduct.
Garcia admitted, however, that limited funding prevents the commission from granting additional allowances to teachers serving during the polls.
COMELEC had requested ₱98 million from the Department of Budget and Management but received only ₱70–₱75 million. Savings will be used to cover compensation, with honoraria expected to remain within the ₱9,000–₱12,000 range.
To cut costs, training sessions will be held in schools instead of hotels, and meal allowances will be reduced.
Garcia emphasized the importance of proper training, noting that not all teachers have prior experience handling manual elections.