Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Tuesday that the printing of more than 2 million official ballots for the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) is set to commence in August. This preparation is in anticipation of the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), scheduled for October 13.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay stated that the printing process is planned to begin two months before the election date. In addition to the official ballots, training and roadshow ballots will also be printed. Commissioner Bulay noted that the total number of ballots, including those for training and roadshows, will range between 2.3 to 2.5 million.

Preparations for the BPE are ongoing despite the absence of a decision by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) concerning the allocation of seven parliamentary seats originally designated for Sulu. As per the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the BARMM parliament must comprise 80 seats, including the seven from Sulu. However, a Supreme Court ruling has excluded Sulu from BARMM, necessitating the reapportionment of these seats among other provinces in the region.

The Comelec is currently awaiting the BTA's amendment of the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024 to determine the fate of the seven parliamentary seats.