A P150-billion election

Presidential elections are generally more expensive, but the last mid-term elections may have been the most expensive mid-term election in Philippine history in nominal and real terms.

- Ruben Almendras

The last presidential election was just three years ago when inflation was in single digits, and the BBM-Duterte team had enormous local and foreign financial resources, so the 2022 election probably was more expensive.

The Commission on Election (Comelec) budget for the 2025 election was P36 billion and together with the additional expenses for security/peace and order, the additional expenses for teachers/volunteers allowances shouldered by other offices, about P38 billion were spent by Comelec and the Education and police support departments.