THE Commission on Elections proposed a budget to the Department of Budget and Management which will be used to pay for school facilities which will be utilized during the midterm elections.

“Kami po ay magpo-propose na ng budget para sa 2025 elections at ipinasama po ng inyong lingkod talaga ‘yung isang proposal sa [Department of Budget and Management] upang meron tayong budget na pambayad doon sa paggamit ng utilities ng ating mga paaralan,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

Garcia said the move was in line with Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio’s request.

“Isa sa mga request sa atin ng Vice President natin, Ma’am Inday Sara Duterte, kasi nga gumagamit ng kuryente, gumagamit ng tubig, wala naman kaming binabayad sa DepEd patungkol d’yan sa bagay na ‘yan. So isipin niyo libreng nakakagamit ang Comelec during the election and yet, ang nagbabayad ay ang DepEd,” said the Comelec official.

Earlier, the Comelec rolled out its Register Anywhere Program which aims to break down barriers and make it easier for Filipinos to exercise their right to vote in the 2025 National and Local Elections, according to the Philippine Information Agency.