MANILA (July 31) — THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) said it is 95 percent ready for the historic Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, with ballots printed, verified and packed for deployment ahead of the Sept. 14 polls.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said preparations for the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remain on schedule, with only a few major tasks left before election day.
More than 2.3 million official ballots have been printed and verified, while defective ballots—less than 1 percent of the total—have already been reprinted.
Garcia said the ballots have been packed and are scheduled for deployment beginning the first week of August.
Election machines and other supplies are likewise ready for shipment, pending final clearance from the packing and shipping committee.
“What is left is mainly the training of teachers, members of the Special Electoral Board and PNP personnel,” Garcia said, stressing that the Comelec is nearing full operational readiness.
The remaining training will be crucial as thousands of election workers and security personnel prepare to handle the region’s first parliamentary vote under the Bangsamoro political system.
The campaign period officially opened July 30, putting candidates and political groups into full campaign mode as they court voters across the region.
Candidates have until Sept. 12 to campaign, giving them less than two weeks before voters cast their ballots on Sept. 14.
The elections will mark a major test of the Bangsamoro’s transition to parliamentary governance, with voters choosing representatives who will form the Bangsamoro Parliament.
For Comelec, the immediate task is now to finish the remaining training and logistics—and ensure that the region’s first parliamentary elections proceed as planned.
