MANILA - The barangay election is just three weeks away and the Commission on Elections is still scrambling to collect contributions from local government units for the October 28 polls.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said each barangay has a contribution of P10,000 and they are hoping to get at least P100 million in total contributions.
There are 42,028 barangays in the country, which would translate to P400 million in contributions if all barangays comply with the Comelec resolution.
Brillantes said the money would help defray the expenses for the election, particularly for the salaries of teachers.
However, the actual collections of the Comelec at this point totals only P20 million to P30 million.
Reports from various field offices indicate that several local government units are unwilling to comply with the resolution because of various reasons.
This is why in its resolution dated last September 29, the Comelec again reminded the local government units that they must submit their contributions not later than October 18, 2013.
The poll body added that failure to comply constitutes an election offense pursuant to the Omnibus election code.
Brillantes said that although the Comelec can cover the P400 million contribution, this would mean an additional financial burden on the poll body.
"Maawa naman sila. P2 billion ang inaabono namin, P1 billion lang budget namin. P3 billion ang kailangang gastusin for the elections," he said.
"Papatong pa sa amin yan, another P400 million. Wag naman."
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