DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said it expects a swift proclamation of winners for the upcoming Dasmariñas Special Elections, with a new district representative proclaimed the morning after election day.
In a press briefing last June 11 following their first Coordination Meeting for the Special Elections, COMELEC chair George Garcia said he expects that the winning congressional candidate will be proclaimed on the morning of August 30.
“We intend to be able to proclaim the winning member of the House of Representatives the next morning, the morning after the elections of August 29. More or less on the morning of August 30, gusto na nating magawa iyon.”
Despite the limited preparations and election period, Garcia said they will be able to oversee the Special Elections which will be conducted manually.
“Napakaiksi po ng panahon na ibinigay sa atin ng ating Saligang Batas upang isagawa ang ating Special Elections, pero kaya po nating lahat ‘yan.”
Garcia admits that the Dasmariñas special elections will be conducted on a limited budget. But nonetheless, teachers who will serve as board of canvassers will receive their honorarium.
“Syempre ang [may] pinakamalaking gagampanan, ang ating mga guro ng DepEd dito sa Dasmariñas, sapagkat the usual [ay] magkakaroon kami ng training kahit sanay tayo sa manual election pero kinakailangan nating I-train ‘yung ating mga electoral board member na magsisilbi sa araw ng eleksyon.”
The poll body added that canvassing of ballots will be conducted manually.
Garcia also admitted that the poll body has limited funds for the Dasmariñas Special Elections, but said that COMELEC will maximize its resources to ensure an orderly election.
“Ang commitment ng COMELEC, kung ano ang ibinigay naming honoraria [para] sa May 2025 Elections, ‘yan na rin po ang commitment ng COMELEC na gagawan natin ng paraan na maibigay sa ating mga guro.”
The special election follows the expulsion of former Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga from the House of Representatives over repeated violations of chamber rules. (PB-PIA CALABARZON, with reports from Mayor Jenny Barzaga/FACEBOOK)
