MANILA, Philippines — Commission of Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said on Thursday that the proposal to hold the 2025 national and local elections and the plebiscite to amend the 1987 Constitution would be “logical and practical” due to budget concerns.
According to Garcia, holding separate voting for the plebiscite would cost an additional P13 billion.
READ: Comelec OK with simultaneous 2025 midterm polls, Cha-cha plebiscite
“Sadya naman pong dapat at logical at praktikal na maisabay ang national elections kasama ang plebisito. Sapagkat kapag sineparate niyo ang isang plebisito, kakailanganin po ng Comelec ang P13 billion para magsagawa ng plebisito,” Garcia said in an ambush interview.
(It is logical and practical that the national elections be held together with the plebiscite because if you separate the two, the Comelec will need an additional P13 billion to conduct the plebiscite.)
“Ibig sabihin kapag hindi niyo isinabay ang plebisito, may additional pang P13 billion, samantala kung isasabay niyo ang plebisito sa national and local elections ng 2025, hindi niyo na kailangan ng P13 billion,” he added.
(This means that if the plebiscite is not held together with the elections, there will be an additional spending of P13 billion, while if you hold them together, the P13 billion will no longer be needed.)
Garcia added that the Comelec will raise to Congress the matter of increased honoraria for teachers who will be in service for the elections.
“Siguro po kung magkakaroon po ng dagdag na gastos ang Comelec, hihilingin po natin sa ating Kongreso na baka pwede, mabigyan ng karagdagang honoraria ang ating mga guro,” he continued.
(If the Comelec will have extra expenses, we will ask Congress to provide increased honoraria for the teachers.)
He added that there are no legal impediments for the plebiscite and the elections to be held at the same time.
“Walang probisyon sa Saligang Batas o kahit anong umiiral na batas na bawal isabay ang national and local elections at ang isang plebisito,” Garcia said.
(No provisions in the Constitution or any law say that the national and local elections and a plebiscite cannot be held together.)
On Monday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wanted the plebiscite to be held along with the 2025 midterm elections.