DBM releases P3 billion for Barangay, SK polls

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management has released P3 billion to the Commission on Elections for the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.

Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad said the budgetary requirements for the October 25 elections have been released in full to dispel speculations about a possi-ble postponement because of the country's ballooning budget deficit.

Abad assured that the government has the budget for the barangay and youth elections and that budgetary requirement should not be a reason to postpone it.

"The P3 billion plus budget is already released to Comelec in full," Abad told The FREEMAN yesterday.

President Aquino also have made an earlier stand to push through with the elections despite several pending bills in Congress calling for the deferment of the barangay and youth elections because of budgetary constraints.

Based on the records of Congress there are at least 21 bills filed by congressmen seeking to move the scheduled October 25, 2010 Barangay and SK elections to either next year, 2012 or wait for the next senatorial and local elections in 2013.

The proponents argued that the scheduled elections are barely five months after the May 10, 2010 local and national elections. In fact, on September 25 the election pe-riod already starts until November 10. Gun ban will also take effect during the entire period.

The filing of the certificates of candidacy will start on October 1 to 13. (FREEMAN)