Manila: Ballot faces for the upcoming automated Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) have been approved while the source code is being finished, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday. "Preparations for automation are underway. Now we are finishing the source code. Yesterday (Monday), the Comelec en banc approved the ballot faces. That is needed in the source code," Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview.

According to Philippines News Agency, all necessary equipment and budget for the first-ever BPE have also been prepared, Garcia said. The training of Electoral Board members and support staff is already laid out. He emphasized that the months of June and July are crucial in their preparations for the first-ever BPE scheduled on October 13.

Garcia highlighted the importance of June and July for completing the source code, trusted build, source code review, pre-logic and accuracy test, and conducting mock elections, along with final testing and sealing, including the machine and the transmission of the results.

The Comelec earlier indicated its aim to start the printing of an estimated 2.3 million to 2.5 million official ballots for the BPE in August.