Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now in the final stages of preparations for the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections scheduled for October 13.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco announced during an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon over PTV4 that the commission is set to begin printing approximately 2.2 million official ballots at the National Printing Office on August 24. Laudiangco confirmed that the local source code is ready, and successful field testing and mock elections have been completed.

The Comelec is actively coordinating with government law enforcement and security agencies to ensure a smooth election process. Laudiangco noted that the current peace and order situation appears favorable for the upcoming elections. Additionally, the Comelec is working with the Department of Energy to prepare generator sets, batteries, and power stations to guarantee readiness for the elections.

The upcoming BARMM Parliamentary Elections will feature a total of 73 parliamentary seats. These include 40 seats for regional political parties, 25 seats for parliamentary districts, and eight seats for sectoral organizations.