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Poe pushes for P500-M Comelec budget increase to help fund its own building construction
Poe pushes for P500-M Comelec budget increase to help fund its own building construction
If Congress will write the check, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may soon have its own building at the reclamation area in Pasay city.
This came after Senator Grace Poe pushed for a P500-million increase in the proposed budget of the Comelec in 2023 for the construction of its own building.
In her interpellation of the Comelec's proposed allocation under the P5.268-trillion national budget next year, Poe manifested her support for funding the construction of the poll body's own building.
Sen. Imee Marcos, who sponsored the Comelec’s budget for 2023, backed Poe's suggestion, saying the additional fund could be sourced from the poll body’s savings of P981-million.
Under the House of Representatives-approved version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB or proposed national budget), the Comelec was given P1-billion for the building construction. The Commission earlier sought a budget of P1.5 billion to start the structure.
Both houses of Congress will have to fine-tune their conflicting provisions of the budget.
"I think it's reasonable for us to assume that really, every government agency should have a proper place. Comelec should have a proper venue to store whatever election documents they have, to be able to operate efficiently and comfortably," Poe said during the third day of the Senate's marathon plenary session on the 2023 national budget.
Poe recalled the fire that hit Comelec's office in Intramuros, Manila last July 31, affecting its information technology department.
“And it's usually right after a contested election. So I think, maybe, in this new facility, hopefully, it will be state-of-the-art, at least, when it comes to the safety standard,” she said.
“Perhaps if the chairman of the Finance committee would consider adding P500-million, if there's a possibility,” Poe proposed.
“I would like to express my support for the Comelec to have its own building,” she added.
The Comelec has been renting several floors of the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila to house its officials and employees, as well as election-related documents and equipment, along with other government offices.
The Senate, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, had toiled until the wee hours to pass the proposed P6.48-billion budget of the Comelec.
The Senate "deemed submitted" for plenary approval the budget of a number of agencies, including the Comelec’s proposed budget.
Zubiri said Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia is probably the most suited for the job.
“I think he is one of the last great election lawyers, and I am happy that he is there at the helm. If there’s anyone who knows his mettle and he knows what he is doing, it is the good gentleman, Chairman George Erwin Garcia,” Zubiri added.