Comelec releases nearly P70-M for postal fees

Based on Comelec records, there are more than 1.8 million registered Filipino voters abroad. (File Photo By Elmer B. Domingo – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections-Office for Overseas Voting (Comelec-OFOV) has released close to PHP70 million for the payment of postal fees for voters overseas in connection with the ongoing overseas voting for the May 13 mid-term polls.

Comelec-OFOV Director Elaiza David said a total of PHP69 million has been allocated for the mail stamp fees.

“For this purpose, the Comelec transferred 55M and approved an additional 14M for payment of postage fees to ensure that the mailing packets for Overseas voters will be delivered,” she said in her Twitter account, @Atty_Lai, on Saturday.

The fund was released in response to the clamor of some Filipinos abroad that they have yet to receive their official ballots due to lack of funds for the postage fees.

The ballots will be sent through mail by their diplomatic posts in the countries where they are located.

Aside from postal voting, some registered Filipino voters overseas will be casting their votes through the vote counting machine (VCM).

They will be only voting for national positions– 12 senators and one party-list group.

On Friday, David said Comelec is the agency responsible in the release of funds for postage fees as stated in the memorandum of agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“Pursuant to Memorandum of Agreement between the Comelec and the DFA, the Comelec is the agency that will release funds for postal fees for the purpose of sending mailing packets to overseas voters,” she said in a statement.

The overseas voting started on April 13, and will end on May 13.

Based on Comelec records, there are more than 1.8 million registered Filipino voters abroad.