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Nograles pushes quick OK of budget for automated polls

01/14/2009

By Charlie V. Manalo

Heeding the warning of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that time is running out for the 2010 poll automation unless its requested fund is approved before the first quarter of the year ends, Speaker Prospero Nograles yesterday urged members of the House of Representatives to fasttrack the approval of the P11.30-billion supplemental budget under House Bill 5715, saying the full automation of the 2010 national and local elections will push through.

“Appropriations Chairman Junie Cua has formally filed the supplemental budget under House Bill 5715 allotting the needed funds for the acquisition of equipment and for preparatory activities of the Commission on Elections for the automated 2010 polls,” Nograles said.

Nograles promptly instructed Cua and Majority Leader Arthur Defensor to prioritize the supplemental automation measure which is expected to be certified as urgent by President Arroyo.

“No public funds can ever be spent without appropriations originating from the House of Representatives,” the Speaker said.

Earlier, presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio had said “the funds will be released by the Department of Budget and Management when the funding bill is enacted into law.”

“The President will most likely certify this bill as urgent,” Claudio was reported as telling Palace reporters.

Of the P11.3-billion supplemental outlay, P1.3-billion would cover all the necessary groundwork preparations by the Comelec and other deputized government agencies while P9.959-billion will be needed for the acquisition of computers and other related machines to be distributed nationwide during the 2010 polls.

“The poll automation will ensure an informed citizenry on their right of suffrage and the conduct of free, orderly, honest and credible elections,” Nograles said, adding the bill could pass the House within days from resumption of session on Jan. 19.