The coming plebiscite on the splitting of Palawan into three provinces will be done in one day instead of two days.
During a public hearing by the Senate electoral reforms committee chaired by Senator Imee R. Marcos, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said that to play safe because of health issues caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there would be more polling places to reduce the number of voters in each polling place.
The voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 13.
Comelec officials and personnel will go to Palawan in mid-February.
Their arrival will conform with the 14-day mandatory quarantine period for persons coming to Palawan.
The Comelec has purchased protective personnel equipment (PPE) for its personnel who would supervise the plebiscite.
The Inter-Agency Task Force had issued a resolution allowing the plebiscite to be conducted in two days.
Aim of the plebiscite is to get the approval of Palawan residents on Republic Act 11259 mandating the splitting of Palawan into three: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur.