Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia agrees with the idea of holding the Charter change (Cha-cha) plebiscite alongside the May 2025 midterm elections.

"Okay na okay po ang Comelec kung sakaling pagsasabayin lalo na kung ang purpose nito ay ang makatipid (Comelec is very okay with conducting them at the same time especially if it's for the purpose of saving money)," Garcia said in an interview on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

He added that if the plebiscite is held separate from the 2025 polls, it will cost the government P13 billion. This is the same cost as conducting a Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

What will happen according to Garcia is that the ballot will be longer, but there will no additional cost or the need for additional supplies and equipment.

At the same time, he noted that the machines are capable of adding a "yes or no" question to the ballot.

In terms of legality, Garcia says that they're allowed to conduct the plebiscite alongside the 2025 midterm elections since there is no provision under the law that says otherwise.

President Marcos has reportedly supported proposals for the Cha-cha plebiscite to be held alongside next year's polls.

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said the President mentioned this to the senators during their recent meeting in Malacañang.

“Mas gusto niya na magkaroon ng plebiscite in the 2025 elections. Dahil, napaka-klaro, kung gagawin natin yan, bago mag-eleksyon, gagastos po tayo ng P12 to P14 billion (He prefers to have a plebiscite in the 2025 elections. Because, it’s very clear, if we do that before the elections, we will spend P12 to 14 billion),” Zubiri told reporters in an interview.

“Siya mismo, galing mismo sa kanya, sinabi niya, mas gusto niya, sabay na lang sa halalan ng 2025. So, pagka ganun, hindi po tayo kailangan magmamadali (It came from himself personally. He said, he prefers to hold it alongside the 2025 elections. So if that’s the case, we don’t need to rush it),” he stressed.

Since there is no need to expedite the hearings on the economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution, Zubiri said the Senate can take the matter up after the Holy Week break.