Comelec gets P4.14B fund boost for May polls

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P4.14 billion additional budget to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in preparation for the upcoming elections in May.

There will be synchronized elections in national, local and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) this year.

“We augmented the Comelec’s budget to enable them to make the necessary preparations for this year’s elections,” Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said.

“The additional fund support will ensure that pre-election activities are accomplished according to schedule and with the utmost efficiency,” Abad added.

The release was charged against savings from unutilized appropriations under the 2012 General Appropriations Act.

Of the amount, P1.54 billion will be used to cover expenses for synchronized national and local elections, while P755.08 million will be used for other purposes related to the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, such as the development of collateral, software support and maintenance, and training and seminar expenses.

Other items under the release include P100.9 million, which will be set aside for Overseas Absentee Voting requirements.

Abad also said the fund will be used only for activities related to the 2013 elections, and that all unused funds under the release will not be available for obligation at the end of the year. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)