Comelec Cebu City Seeks PHP5.7M Additional Budget for Polls

The Commission on Election (Comelec) Cebu City is asking the Cebu City Government for an additional PHP5.7 million to cover the honoraria, meals and transportation allowances of those who will be serving during the May 9 polls.

In a letter dated May 3, North District Election Officer Edwin Cadungog and South District Election Officer Michael Sarno asked Councilor Margarita Osmeña to sponsor a resolution for the additional expenses that will be incurred.

Of the PHP5.7 million, PHP3.7 million is intended for the honoraria, meals and transportation allowance of 2,311 board of election inspectors (BEI) while some PHP1.05 is intended for 1,054 support staff of the BEIs.

The members of the BEIs will get PHP1,500 each while the support staff will get PHP1,000 each.

Some PHP420,000 out of the total amount requested by Comelec Cebu City will also cover the PHP3,000 honoraria, meals and transportation allowance of each of the 104 supervisors of the Department of Education (DepEd) and 36 members of the manual audit team.

Supports staff of the supervisors will also get PHP1,000 honoraria each, including the special BEIs support staff. Special BEIs for the detainee voting will also get PHP1,500.

A total of PHP192,000 is also intended to cover the PHP6,000 honoraria each of the 32 members of the Task Force DepEd.

“To avoid the appearance of any partisan color, the undersigned with all due respect would like to suggest that the above proposed honoraria will be released only after the May 9, 2016 National, Local and ARMM Elections,” read a portion of the letter.

Osmeña, who chairs the council’s committee on budget and finance, said she was just waiting for Comelec’s budget proposal.

Earlier, the council approved a PHP15.8-million budget for election expenses, which was used for the retraining of BEIs, training of the third member of every clustered precinct and purchase of supplies. (PNA) FFC/EB/EDS