Comelec: DBM denies request for additional funds for March 14 polls
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) denied the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) request for additional funding for the special elections in Antipolo City’s second district following the death of Rep. Romeo Acop, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said Thursday.
Garcia said the Comelec initially requested the additional funds from the Palace, which then forwarded the request to the DBM.
“I also want to say that Comelec is saddened by this unfortunate development. We were not granted the additional budget we requested. We received a letter from the DBM saying we may not receive the extra funds,” Garcia told reporters in Filipino.
“No one wants a special election because no one wants a vacancy. We are obliged to conduct the election even without the budget. We are looking for funds, which is why we requested assistance,” he added.
READ: Comelec sets special polls in 2nd district of Antipolo City
The Constitution requires the Commission on Elections to hold a special election whenever a congressional seat becomes vacant. As Acop died in December 2025, Garcia said the polls must be conducted 60 days after the post is vacated, and no later than 90 days.
Garcia explained that the Comelec would need P98 million for the March 14, 2026 special elections, as the number of registered voters in the second district is projected to reach 280,000. The poll body currently has P11 million allocated for special elections under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
In its letter to the Palace, the Comelec said the estimated P98 million would cover honoraria for electoral board members, special electoral boards, and support personnel; honoraria for district board canvassers; printing of official ballots and other accountability forms; and the training and deployment of election personnel.
With the denial of their request, Garcia said the commission will have to realign funds or stretch savings to hold the elections, which will require major adjustments to preparations.
“No matter how you calculate it, the budget falls far short. We will find funds to pay for supplies, ballot printing, and most importantly, the teachers’ honoraria, which cannot be compromised,” Garcia said.
READ: Comelec to Marcos: Make March 14 holiday in Antipolo for special polls
He added that the poll body is committed to providing P2,000 in uniform honoraria for all electoral board members, the same amount they received in the May 2025 midterm elections.
No consultation
Garcia also said the DBM did not consult with the poll body to discuss the request for additional funding. He compared it with previous instances in which the Comelec was asked to attend meetings to explain its budget requests.
“There was not even a conference. They did not call us to explain why this is needed. In the past, we were always summoned to provide explanations,” he said in Filipino.
“I hope this does not happen again, because no one wants this. We end up spending from other budgets, sometimes large amounts that go to waste. Why should this election—P98 million—be any different? It is a large sum, but compared to billions sometimes unaccounted for, it is small,” he added.
The Inquirer has reached out to the DBM for comment and had yet to receive a reply as of this writing. /mcm
