DBM Press Release
P23.92 billion provided to support preparations for 2028 national and local polls
The proposed budget of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will increase substantially in 2027 as the government ramps up preparations for the 2028 National and Local Elections (NLE).
Under the FY 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), P29.50 billion has been proposed for COMELEC, representing an increase of P9.31 billion, or 46 percent, from its P20.20-billion allocation under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Compared with the P11.85 billion proposed under the FY 2026 NEP, COMELEC’s proposed FY 2027 budget is P17.65 billion higher, equivalent to an increase of 149 percent.
The substantial increase recognizes 2027 as a critical preparatory year for the 2028 National and Local Elections and the need to provide the Commission with sufficient resources to undertake election-related preparations well ahead of the nationwide polls.
Of COMELEC’s proposed P29.50-billion budget, P23.92 billion is intended for the Preparatory National and Local Elections (PNLE), significantly higher than the P2.87 billion provided for the same purpose in FY 2026.
The provision of PNLE funding as early as FY 2026 was made to accommodate COMELEC’s representation that preparations for the 2028 elections needed to begin two years ahead of the NLE, instead of the usual preparatory timeline. Under the regular budget cycle, the substantial PNLE requirements for the 2028 elections would have been programmed beginning in FY 2027, the year immediately preceding the elections. Nevertheless, the government recognized COMELEC’s need for an extended preparation period and provided P2.87 billion in advance in FY 2026 to allow the Commission to commence preparatory activities earlier.
For FY 2027, the proposed P23.92-billion PNLE allocation is also around P3 billion, or 14 percent, higher than COMELEC’s actual PNLE expenditures for the 2025 National and Local Elections, providing the Commission with a substantial funding level as preparations for the 2028 polls move into their more intensive phase.
The increased allocation underscores the Administration’s commitment to ensuring that COMELEC is adequately supported in carrying out its constitutional mandate and preparing for the country’s next national electoral exercise.
As a member of the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG), COMELEC also enjoys fiscal autonomy under the Constitution. Its approved annual appropriations are automatically and regularly released, consistent with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
COMELEC may likewise utilize available appropriations and, subject to constitutional and statutory requirements, use savings to augment deficiencies in items within its appropriations.
Through the proposed FY 2027 allocation, the government seeks to ensure that preparations for the 2028 elections are adequately supported while maintaining the prudent, efficient, and accountable use of public funds.
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FILIPINO VERSION
NEWS MATERIAL
Department Budget and Management
Ika-1 ng Setyembre 2026
COMELEC budget tataas ng 46% sa P29.50-B sa ilalim ng proposed 2027 National Budget
23.92 billion inilaan para suportahan ang paghahanda sa 2028 national at local elections
Malaki ang itataas ng panukalang budget ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) sa 2027 habang pinaiigting ng gobyerno ang paghahanda para sa 2028 National and Local Elections (NLE).
Sa ilalim ng FY 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), P29.50 billion ang panukalang budget para sa COMELEC. Mas mataas ito ng P9.31 billion, o 46 percent, kumpara sa P20.20-billion alokasyon nito sa ilalim ng FY 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Kung ikukumpara naman sa P11.85 billion na panukalang budget sa ilalim ng FY 2026 NEP, P17.65 billion na mas mataas ang proposed FY 2027 budget ng COMELEC, katumbas ng 149-percent increase.
Ang malaking dagdag sa budget ay pagkilala sa kahalagahan ng 2027 bilang isang kritikal na taon ng paghahanda para sa 2028 National and Local Elections, at ang pangangailangan na bigyan ang COMELEC ng sapat na pondo para maisagawa ang mga election-related preparation nang mas maaga, bago ang nationwide polls.
Sa kabuuang P29.50-billion proposed budget ng COMELEC, P23.92 billion ang nakalaan para sa Preparatory National and Local Elections (PNLE). Malaki ang itinaas nito kumpara sa P2.87 billion na inilaan para sa parehong layunin noong FY 2026.
Ang PNLE funding ay unang inilaan noong FY 2026 matapos ipabatid ng COMELEC na kailangang simulan ang paghahanda para sa 2028 elections dalawang taon bago ang NLE, sa halip na sundin ang karaniwang timeline para sa preparasyon.
Sa ilalim ng regular budget cycle, ang malaking bahagi ng PNLE requirements para sa 2028 elections ay dapat sanang ma-programa simula FY 2027, o isang taon bago ang halalan. Gayunman, kinilala ng gobyerno ang pangangailangan ng COMELEC para sa mas mahabang preparation period. Kaya naman, naglaan na ng P2.87 billion noong FY 2026 para makapagsimula ang Commission sa mga kinakailangang paghahanda nang mas maaga.
Para naman sa FY 2027, ang proposed P23.92-billion PNLE allocation ay humigit-kumulang P3 billion, o 14 percent, mas mataas kaysa sa aktuwal na PNLE expenditures ng COMELEC para sa 2025 National and Local Elections, na nagbibigay sa Commission ng mas mataas na antas ng funding habang papalapit sa mas intensibong yugto ang paghahanda para sa halalan sa 2028.
Binibigyan-diin ng mas mataas na alokasyon ang pangako ng Administrasyon na tiyaking sapat ang suporta sa COMELEC upang magampanan ang constitutional mandate nito at maihanda nang maayos ang bansa para sa susunod na national elections.
Bilang miyembro ng Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG), may fiscal autonomy din ang COMELEC sa ilalim ng Constitution. Ang aprobadong annual appropriations nito ay awtomatiko at regular na nire-release, alinsunod sa mga umiiral na batas, rules, at regulations.
Maaari ring gamitin ng COMELEC ang available appropriations nito, na naaayon sa constitutional at statutory requirements, gamitin ang savings para punan ang kakulangan sa ibang items na sakop ng appropriations nito.
Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang FY 2027 allocation, layunin ng pamahalaan na tiyaking sapat ang suporta sa paghahanda para sa 2028 elections, habang sinisiguro ring maingat, mahusay, at may pananagutan ang paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.
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