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Comelec: Fund deficit for barangay, SK polls P3 billion in 2025, P6 billion by 2026
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) requires an additional P6 billion to P9 billion for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), as their proposed 2026 budget of P11.8 billion falls short of the P18.07 billion needed.
Comelec Chair George Garcia stated that an increase in registered voters necessitates more precincts and poll workers, thus requiring additional funding.
The poll body anticipates 71 million registered voters for the barangay polls and an additional 24 to 25 million for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12232, rescheduling the BSKE to November 2026 and extending officials' terms.
If the BSKE were held in December 2025, Comelec would need an additional P3 billion, but this deficit grows to P6 billion to P9 billion if the elections are postponed to 2026.
The Comelec currently has a P10 billion continuing appropriations budget from the 2023 BSKE, but this does not account for the 2.8 million new voters registered from August 1 to August 10.
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