00:00 The Commission on Elections has already planned to postpone the 2023 BSK elections.
00:06 But the Comelec does not want to let it go, so they continue their work even on holidays to avoid the risk of being fired on the day of the election.
00:14 In the center of the news, Mela Lezmora is live.
00:17 The Commission on Elections is now clarifying that even on non-working holidays,
00:25 they will continue their work if the election period starts on the 10th of this month.
00:32 In the Commission on Elections' interview on PTV,
00:38 Comelec spokesperson John Rexlaudjanko shared that they are almost 100% ready for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
00:49 The election period in the country will start on August 28, the same day the certification of candidacy for the candidates for the election will start.
01:00 But after that, the campaign period will not start immediately because it will start on October 19.
01:07 The election will be held on October 30 this year.
01:11 The election period will last until November 29, the last day of the passing of the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures or SOSE.
01:21 According to Atty. Laudjanko, even on many holidays this August, their offices will be open.
01:27 In fact, he also agreed that COC employees should be hired for working professionals on holidays so they will not leave their jobs.
01:38 Our 92 million ballots are already printed with the election returns.
01:42 We only have two major activities.
01:45 First, in September, the training of our electoral boards, teachers and others that will be held on the holidays.
01:51 And second, the deployment of our accountable forms, the ballots and election returns that we will hold a week before October 30.
01:59 So that's it. That's the two major. The rest is fully accomplished by Comelec.
02:05 The campaign spending is also affected.
02:07 Comelec supported the House Bill No. 8370 in the House of Representatives,
02:13 which is increasing the campaign spending limit of candidates every election in the country.
02:18 The law on this issue is old and the value of money is not the same as before and now.
02:25 Meanwhile, the issue of the transfer of 10 barangays from Makati City, which is now a part of Taguig City, is hot.
02:33 Comelec insisted that the voters there will not have a problem and they are free to vote in the upcoming BSKE.
02:42 We are telling our fellow citizens in Makati and Taguig that you don't need to register again.
02:49 We don't see any challenge here because first of all, all the voters, their barangay, their constituency, we will transfer from Makati to Taguig.
02:59 In fact, when it comes to the election, their voting system will not change because it also includes the transfer.
03:06 Nayomi, Comelec is also saying that if they will change anything, the ballot that was put in Makati will be in Taguig.
03:16 But what they are clarifying is that it's just quick and the 10 barangays are in two to three days.
03:21 They will print it again and there will really be no problem.
03:25 Nayomi, I will just add, Comelec is reminding not only the candidates, but also the voters in the barangays and SK elections to be cautious.
03:37 It's a cliché but vote wisely.
03:40 It's time to study the candidates who will vote when they are receiving the Certificate of Candidacy.
03:47 Because it taught the lesson of barangay importance to the Filipinos.
03:53 This is the COVID-19 pandemic because all the government services are coming from the barangay.
03:59 That's why Comelec is reminding the voters to be wise in the upcoming elections.
04:06 Nayomi?
04:07 Bella, regarding the increase in campaign spending amount in the 2023 BSK elections,
04:12 is there a possibility of a punishment for the candidate who will be overspent?
04:17 Nayomi, regarding the increase in campaign spending of the candidates,
04:24 even though it has been passed in the third and final reading of the Camera,
04:28 we will still wait for the Senate to pass it.
04:32 If that will be the case, the President, President Ferdinand R. Marquez Jr. will continue to sign it.
04:38 But Nayomi, Comelec is saying that it's time to increase the campaign spending
04:44 because inflation is affecting all the purchases and spending in the country.
04:50 That's why it's time.
04:51 Nayomi, I can add that the overspending is also causing punishment to the candidates.
04:58 So that the system can be organized and the law can be put in place in the current time,
05:05 Comelec is saying that it's time for them to increase the campaign spending limit in the country.
05:11 Nayomi?
05:12 Thank you very much Bella Lesmuras.
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