Comelec resumes printing of barangay, SK ballots

FILE PHOTO/ Comelec (Photo By Source, Fair use)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has resumed the printing of official ballots to be used in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls happening this October.

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said the printing of the more than 77 million ballots has started last week after it was temporarily suspended due to administrative problems.

“Yes, last week (nag-resume printing). And in fact, tinitingnan naman namin, mahahabol naman eh, kasi nga ang isang makina, makaka-imprenta ng 1.9 million ballots a day. Eh angNational Printing Office (NPO) natin, merong tatlong makina, (Yes, the printing of ballots resumed last week. And in fact, as we see it, we can finish it on time because one machine can print 1.9 million ballots a day. Not to mention that the National Printing Office has three machines.) ” he said in an interview.

The poll body chief revealed that the ballots, which are set to be printed and finished on Tuesday, is for the whole Region 8 (Eastern Visayas).

Earlier, the poll body has stopped the printing after seeing some problems with their Project of Precincts (POPs) and the number of ballots per precinct.

Prior to this, the Comelec has so far printed 15,021 official ballots for Batanes, 11,101 for barangay, and 3,920 for SK elections.

Early this month, the poll body has started the printing of the 77,261,086 ballots for the October 23 elections.

The printing of the ballots commenced despite pending proposals in the Senate and House of Representatives seeking the postponement of the village and youth polls.

The Comelec targets to finish printing all ballots in 35 days.

Each printed ballot costs PHP3 for a total budget of PHP231.6 million. (PNA)