Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday welcomed the approval of its PHP11.8-billion budget by the Senate Finance Subcommittee A, even as it flagged the need for additional support to meet the demands of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia revealed during the hearing that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had reduced their original PHP18.07-billion proposal by PHP6.22 billion. This reduction leaves the agency with limited resources to adequately prepare for the upcoming polls.

Garcia highlighted that the proposed budget was cut by approximately PHP6 billion, leaving Comelec with only PHP9.5 billion. This funding gap poses challenges, especially as voter registration continues to increase. A recent 10-day registration drive added 2.8 million voters, and with registration open until July 2026, the electorate is expected to grow by another 1.4 million, reaching a total of about 99 million.

The anticipated rise in voter numbers necessitates the creation of 10,000 additional precincts and the hiring of 30,000 more electoral board members. These requirements add to the costs for training, logistics, and ballot printing.

Despite the budgetary shortfall, the panel chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian endorsed the Comelec budget for plenary consideration. Senator Raffy Tulfo supported the agency's appeal for more resources, emphasizing the importance of adequately compensating poll workers, particularly teachers, to ensure that elections are not compromised by lack of funding.

Comelec stated that its total requirement for the 2026 BSKE is PHP15.9 billion, which includes honoraria for nearly one million teachers and other poll workers.