By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
Commission on Elections Acting Chair Christian Robert Lim on Thursday said the plebiscite for Charter Change can no longer be held in time for the midterm elections in 2019 even if amendments to the Constitution are approved by the two houses of Congress this year.
According to Lim, Congress has not allotted a budget for preparations for the plebiscite–where Filipino voters will be asked whether they accept federalism or not —this year.
Even if a budget is allotted for the same in the national budget for 2019, he said the conduct of the plebiscite would still not be possible.
According to Lim, this was because “especially manufactured carbonless ballot paper” still needs to be imported for the referendum that is done manually.
The paper will be used for the election returns.
“We will need six months to prepare, about two to three months for public bidding. Kung bigyan kami ng exemption ng Congress for public bidding, maybe we can do it in two to four months,” he said.
Earlier, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that his target was to hold the plebiscite during barangay elections to save on funds.
“But if, for example, we are not able to comply with the requirements of the law in time, then we will adjust (the timetable),” he said.
