Philippines Faces Potential Voting Machine Shortage for 2028 Elections Amid Budget Cuts

Voters may experience longer queues in the 2028 National and Local Elections (NLE) if 9,300 voting machines are excluded from the 2027 national budget. This was stated by Quezon 4th District Rep. Mike Tan, sponsor of the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) 2027 budget, during the plenary session of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill. "Yun po yung nirerequest nila na ibigay po yung P23.16 billion kasi kukulangin tayo ng 9,300 na machines at magiging resulta nito ay longer lines, longer queues sa ating mga presinto," Tan said, referring to the P23.16 billion requested by Comelec. (They're requesting the additional P23.16 billion because we will be short of 9,300 machines. The result will be longer lines, longer queues at our polling precincts.) Comelec is seeking a P44.7-billion budget for 2027, which was reduced by 34% to P29.5 billion. The poll body is currently drafting the terms of reference for the voting machines to be used for the 2028 NLE as it plans to procure new units. Comelec chairperson George Garcia earlier expressed hope for clarity by September on whether the Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) will push through as scheduled. An early decision would allow the poll body to adjust its preparations, particularly as it also needs to gear up for the 2028 NLE. Last week, the Senate approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to "fix" the term of office of barangay officials and SK members to five years. With 13 affirmative votes, five negative votes, and no abstentions, the upper chamber approved Senate Bill No. 2387. The measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 12232 by fixing the current four-year term of barangay and SK officials to five years and moving the next BSKE from the first to the second Monday of November 2028. It also provides that no elective barangay official shall serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same position, while no elective SK official shall serve for more than one term in the same position. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the measure’s principal author and sponsor, said the five-year term would give barangay and SK officials more time to plan, implement, and evaluate programs before the next elections.