The Comelec has been renting several floors of the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe suggested on Monday during the Senate plenary session an additional P500 million for the 2023 budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the construction of its own building in Pasay City.
The poll body has been renting several floors of the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila to house its employees and documents.
“I think it’s reasonable for us to assume that, really, every government agency should have a proper place. Comelec should have a proper venue to store whatever election documents they have, to be able to operate efficiently and comfortably,” Poe said. “Perhaps, if the chairman of the finance committee would consider adding P500 million — if there’s a possibility.”
Sen. Imee Marcos, budget sponsor and chair of the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, agreed with Poe’s recommendation.
She said that the additional fund could be sourced from Comelec’s savings amounting to P981 million.
In July, the Comelec office caught fire that affected its information technology department.
Poe noted that a fire usually happens after a contested election.
“So I think, maybe, in this new facility, hopefully, it will be state-of-the-art — at least, when it comes to the safety standard,” she said.
Under the House General Appropriations Bill, the Comelec has an allocation of P1 billion for the construction of its building.
The poll body had earlier sought a P1.5-billion budget to start erecting the building.
After deliberations, the Senate approved P6.49 billion for the 2023 Comelec budget.