Comelec to appeal SC order for new village polls

By Vito Barcelo

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it will appeal the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision directing the poll body to conduct another Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on December 5, 2025, compelling the Comelec to hold two elections in two years.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the en banc is preparing to file a motion for reconsideration on the decision of the High Court which ruled that the next BSKE after the October 2023 polls shall be held in 2025.

The motion for reconsideration is expected to be filed after the Comelec receives the full copy of the Supreme Court decision, he said.

The SC, in its decision, declared unconstitutional the previous postponement of the BSKE and ordered another village polls to be set on the first Monday of December 2025. But for that year, the poll body has only been preparing for the midterm polls and has planned on introducing a new system and new automated counting machines.

Since they would have to prepare for two elections, the commission has to plan carefully how it would execute the preparations and conduct of these suffrage exercises, the official said

“But because of the SC’s decision, it seems that there would be an additional budget and there should be a decision on whether the BSKE 2025 would be automated. Of course, this would entail additional cost,” he added.

The Comelec meanwhile said it will withhold the salaries and benefits of officers and employees who have unliquidated cash advances in 2022.

Garcia issued the statement after receiving reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) that the poll regulator had P2 billion in unliquidated cash advances in 2022.

“The Commission en banc passed a resolution on the withholding of salaries and benefits of personnel until they have liquidated their cash advances,” Garcia said.

“In fact, it includes all other actions even including filing of criminal cases against individuals who will not properly liquidate,” he added.

NEW CLARK MEDICAL FACILITY.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. conducted a briefing and site inspection of the first-ever Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga on Monday. The construction of the first regional specialty medical center is in support of the administration’s efforts to establish more hospitals in different provinces and cities across the country. Alfred Frias/ NIB-PNA.

Agency eyes repurposing of P276-b flooding budget

By Othel V. Campos

THE Water Resources Management

Board (WRMO), a newly-formed agency at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seeks to repurpose part of the P276-billion budget intended for the flood control program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

WRMO head and DENR undersecretary for Environmental Science Car-