Preparations for the December Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls are on track, the Commission on Elections said Friday, July 22.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, Comelec Acting Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said part of their preparation is the ongoing voter registration.
Voter registration for the Dec. 5, 2022 BSKE resumed July 4 and will end on July 23.
Laudiangco said the Commission en banc will also soon promulgate the resolution for the forthcoming poll exercise.
He said even the procurement of ballot papers and other election supplies is on track.
"We are confident that we are on track and that we will be able to conduct the Barangay and Sangguniang Elections on Dec. 5," said Laudiangco.
Meanwhile, the poll official said that the budget for the 2022 BSKE consisting of allotments and the corresponding cash allocations in the total amount of P8,441,280,000 is still in the coffers of Comelec and remains unspent except for the very minimal amount for supplies under Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses amounting only to P225,360.
To note, there are proposals to postpone the BSKE.
Laudiangco also said that a postponement, coupled with a re-setting or re-scheduling of any priorly-scheduled (by law) electoral exercise has a potential to impact preparations and activities of succeeding elections.
"This impact may be more readily apparent on the early planning and preparations which the Commission intends to undertake for the conduct of the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections," he said in a statement.
"Comelec aspires to follow through with its success in the May 9, 2022 NLE by planning for and preparing early for the May 12, 2025 NLE, addressing all areas for improvement, ensuring a duplication of the speed and efficiency of elections if not improving it, as well as providing a better voting experience for the Filipinos," added Laudiangco.
Should a legislation be passed to postpone, re-set or re-schedule the Dec. 5, 2022 BSKE, he said, the Commission will "comply in accordance with its Constitutional Mandate, as it had done previously, and will ensure that necessary adjustments and corresponding actions be taken not just mitigate said impact, but more so to ensure that all electoral exercises be conducted with credibility, orderliness, accuracy and integrity."