‘Congress should allot funds for absentee voting’

Malacañang asked Congress yesterday to appropriate an additional P1 billion in the supplemental budget for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be used in implementing the Absentee Voting Law.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye told reporters yesterday the amount earmarked for the Comelec in this year’s national budget was for the computerization of next year’s national and local elections.

"The order of the President setting aside substantial amount refers to the computerization of the (electoral) process," he said. "Another amount would be needed to set up the mechanisms for overseas voting and this would depend on the action to be taken by the legislature."

Bunye said President Arroyo signed Executive Order 175 last Feb. 11 to allocate an additional P500 million for the Comelec to carry out an automated counting and canvassing of votes in the elections next year.

"Under EO 175, President Arroyo directed Budget and Management Secretary Emilia Boncodin to earmark this amount in addition to previously allocated P2.5 billion to the Comelec to implement its modernization program," he said.

Bunye said Malacañang has an "open mind" on the proposal of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. for Mrs. Arroyo to discuss with Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. how the Comelec could implement the absentee voting law soonest.

"This (meeting) is something which can be considered," he said. — Marichu Villanueva, Jose Rodel Clapano