Lacson eyes unused BSKE funds for fuel crisis response

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has proposed a constitutional workaround to tap P16 billion in unused election funds to address the escalating fuel crisis, a move now backed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The strategy comes amid proposals to postpone yet again the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) ostensibly to free up cash for emergency crisis response.

The BSKE, originally scheduled for Dec. 1, 2025, had already been pushed to Nov. 2 of this year.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia had previously warned that realigning the poll body’s budget to other agencies is unconstitutional.

However, Lacson said the government may instead treat the unspent funds as savings to be returned to the National Treasury, where they can be repurposed legally.

“What the Chairman said is true. Funds allocated to Comelec cannot be realigned to other items because that would be unconstitutional. But the allocations can still be treated as savings – Comelec may opt not to spend the funds for the BSKE and declare them as savings to be returned to the Treasury,” Lacson said.

In an interview on dzBB, Garcia agreed with Lacson’s framework, noting that of the P19 billion allocated for the BSKE under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, about P3 billion has already been spent for preparations, leaving roughly P16 billion unused.

“Yes, that is correct and Senator Ping Lacson is right. In our case, all our savings can be returned or left unspent. That may be one strategy Congress can consider, rather than transferring the funds or proceeding with the elections, the remaining budget in the DBM can simply remain unused,” he said in Filipino.

Once returned to the Treasury, the funds may be used by the executive for fuel crisis interventions.

Surge

Meanwhile, the Comelec reported that over 3.9 million individuals have applied for voter registration ahead of the November 2026 BSKE.

Data showed a total of 3,909,634 applications nationwide, with Calabarzon recording the highest number at 642,217, followed by Central Luzon with 434,920 and the National Capital Region with 397,540.

Other regions with high registration numbers include Bicol with 235,596 and Central Visayas with 230,838, while the Cordillera Administrative Region posted the lowest with 53,954 applicants.

Comelec’s Special Register Anywhere/Anytime Program also received 9,163 applications at its main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Voter registration will run until May 18, 2026, with applications accepted daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at any satellite registration sites and local Comelec offices. — Rhodina Villanueva