WITH the impending postponement of the December 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said it will need additional funds to hold the electoral exercise in November 2026.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said they are likely to ask for an extra P4 billion because “we did not include it in the 2026 budget proposal because there is no announcement and law yet.”
The Comelec allotted P11 billion for the December 1, 2025 polls.
In an interview, Garcia said “the additional cost we could be requesting for the BSKE reset may reach P4 billion.
“If it is reset, because of having additional registered voters, we will ask for additional budget for additional ballots, precincts, teachers, and election paraphernalia,” he said.
So far, he said they have yet to have substantial expenditures in their ongoing preparations for the BSKE despite continuing with the procurement processes.
“Technically, there is no cost for our procurement of equipment yet. The funds given to us for BSKE remain intact,” said Garcia.
On Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will sign into law the bill postponing the BSKE and setting the new terms for barangay and SK officials.
Once signed into law, the BSKE shall be held on the first Monday of November 2026, instead of on December 1, 2025.
