The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday, Jan. 23, started printing the automated ballots for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) set to be used in the May 2022 polls.
"Printing of AES ballots for the BARMM is set to start this morning, at the National Printing Office," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.
Later, he announced that the printing already started at past 11 a.m.
Jimenez said first to be printed are those for Lanao del Sur.
"Printing will start with the ballots for Lanao del Sur, numbering 685,643 ballots. The total number of BARMM ballots to be printed is 2,588,193," he said.
The printing of AES for BARMM started after the poll body finished the manual ballots for Local Absentee Voting (LAV) and overseas ballots.
The poll body is set to print more than 67 million ballots for the May 2022 elections. Of the said number, 1.6 million are for overseas voting and 65.7 million for local voting.
Meanwhile, government agencies and local government units may apply for exemptions to disbursement of public funds and construction of public works.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said this on Twitter, Sunday, Jan. 23.
"Governors and Mayors, national agency heads can file for Comelec exemption from ban on project implementation and cash disbursements due to the pandemic," she said.
Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10695, the following are prohibited from March 25 to May 8.
• The construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrant or similar devices for a future undertaking chargeable against public funds.
• Release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds.