Basilan: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has begun the early delivery of election paraphernalia to remote island municipalities in Basilan province as the poll body steps up preparations for the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE). Basilan officer-in-charge Provincial Election Supervisor Miguel Roberto Dela Pe±a said election materials for the island town of Hadji Muhtamad were delivered on Thursday, and Tabuan Lasa's supplies are set to be dispatched on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the early deployment is aimed at ensuring that election materials reach far-flung and geographically isolated voting areas before election day, particularly those facing transportation and logistical challenges, Dela Pe±a stated. The island town of Hadji Muhtamad is 42.8 kilometers from Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province, while Tabuan Lasa is around 36 kilometers from mainland Basilan.

Dela Pe±a mentioned that the measure is part of Comelec-Basilan's ongoing preparations to ensure that all voting centers are properly equipped for the first parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The final testing and sealing of the automated counting machines (ACMs) will be conducted on Saturday at the respective voting centers across Basilan province.

With only three days left before the polls, election officials are also completing logistical, operational, and security preparations for the election in Basilan province. Dela Pe±a emphasized that the preparations are intended to ensure a peaceful, orderly, secure, and credible BPE in Basilan. Basilan has four electoral districts, and the number of candidates has dropped to 16 after one withdrew from the race in the second district.