The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that it would start printing ballots on Sept. 20 for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this coming December.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Sept. 15, Comelec chairperson Erwin Garcia said that the election preparations continue since the bill seeking for the election postponement has not been enacted into law yet.
“Kahapon, pinresent na sa amin ni Director Elnas ang magiging istura ng mga balota at the same time, tuloy-tuloy na din ang instructions namin sa pagp-print ng balota mula Sept. 20 to Oct. 20, isang buong buwan na gagawin sa National Printing Office (NPO). Kasama na rin ang pagdagdag ng pag-procure ng 20,000 ballot boxes,” he said.
Garcia explained that from their point of view, it is "not right" to stop its preparation merely because the BSKE election might be postponed.
“Tuloy pa rin po ang preparation namin,” he reiterated.
The commissioner asserted that the 92 million ballots with the date Dec. 5, 2022, will not be wasted if the election will be deferred.
“Hindi po masasayang sapagkat una, meron kaming pag i-imbakan ng mga balota doon sa NPO, karagdagang usapin nalang po iyan sa NPO. Number two, mag i-issue na kami ng resolution na ‘yung na-print na Dec. 5, 2022 ay pwedeng gamitin doon sa election kung sakali ito ay ma-reset,” he added.
Garcia noted that they have not released any funds for the training of teachers and deployment of armed forces yet.
“Kung mag-train kami ng mga ating mga guro, electoral board, [at] electoral worker nang napaka-aga, kapag biglang na-reset ang election, masayang ‘yung nagastos natin,” he added.
The filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) from Oct. 6 to 13 will push through, the commissioner said.
“Maliban na lang kung may batas bago ang October 5th, dapat may batas. Sa lahat ng nag a-ambisyon na tumakbo sa barangay and SK election, kapag dumating ang October 5, walang batas, mag file kayo ng October 6,” he said.
The measure seeking to postpone the BSKE passed the second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
House Bill 4673 proposes to move the poll from Dec 5, 2022 to Dec. 4, 2023.
