P3.3M needed for Bacolod village plebiscite

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila has made an estimate of P3.3 million to fund the conduct of plebiscite for the conversion of Pagla-um village into a new barangay in Bacolod City.

Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the City Council committee on laws, ordinances and good government, personally went to the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila to request for an estimate from the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operation (Odedo).

"We will endorse it to the Office of the City Mayor for their evaluation as we will still allocate funds for this. Although the Odedo is the one that makes the estimate, we will make an endorsement to the City Comelec which, in turn, will also make her own official endorsement of the said plebiscite, the City Council will scrutinize the proposal," he said.

Earlier, they proposed P5 million for the conduct of the plebiscite but Mayor Evelio Leonardia said it's too much for the city to spend, thus he requested an official estimate from Comelec Manila.

The expenses will be P30 per voter, the overtime pay of Manila and local Comelec personnel, and the per diem of the teachers serving the plebiscite, which is P3,000 per teacher times 110 precincts.

Distrito is optimistic that Mayor Leonardia will find ways in order to acquire the needed funds.

The Comelec is willing to conduct the plebiscite as long as the requirements are met, including the letter from the mayor, the City Council ordinance and certification of the availability of funds.