Comelec faces P14-billion budget cut for 2025 elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) faced significant budget cuts for its 2025 election preparations, reducing its proposed P49-billion budget to P35 billion.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia highlighted that the cut would primarily affect support staff and training for teachers involved in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for December 2025.

Garcia noted that the reduced funds will impact venue rentals, food, transportation expenses, and voter education programs. At least P3 billion of the cut was initially allocated for the 2025 national and local elections, while around P8 billion was for BSKE.

The Comelec chief emphasized the need to restore at least a portion of the P14-billion cut, particularly stressing the importance of adequate funding for upcoming elections. Garcia also mentioned that unused funds from 2024 may be realigned to help cover some of these budget shortfalls.

In addition to addressing budget concerns, Garcia discussed plans to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) misuse and troll farms during the 2025 Election, aiming to prevent misinformation and disinformation.

The Comelec is also scheduling mock elections in November to test its automated election system, including vote counting machines and transmission systems.