The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will pay private television networks P200 million worth of tax credits for the placement of their advertisements for their voters' education campaign.

“There is a discount for us, and we will pay through tax credits. Instead of paying, the Comelec, we give tax credits so they can use it for importation [of equipment],” Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said.

The tax credits will be made available for the networks when they import equipment within a year.

Larrazabal said the Comelec TV ads, which are expected to come out this week, will be “extensive.”

Extensive, he said, means that its ads won’t be aired only on newscasts, but also in primetime programs of TV networks.

“Hopefully, by next week, we will have ads on TV,” said Larrazabal.

The poll official, meantime, revealed that the management officials of the TV networks have also agreed to lend their talents to the Comelec for its voter education projects.

“For example, there's an event in Cebu for voters' education and celebrities join us. We don't have to pay them talent fee. They're doing it for love of country,” Larrazabal said.

It was recalled that the Comelec had earlier called on celebrities to help in the voter education campaign.