In a strategic move to enhance the efficiency of ballot printing for the upcoming May 12 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has, for the first time, enlisted the services of the National Printing Office (NPO). This decision was announced by Comelec Chairperson George Garcia during a recent interview, where he explained that the deputization of the NPO would allow the Comelec to utilize NPO personnel as if they were part of the election commission’s staff.
Garcia emphasized the significance of this move, stating that a formal resolution would soon be issued to solidify the NPO’s role in the election preparations. This comes after the Comelec had to temporarily halt ballot printing at the NPO due to several temporary restraining orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court. These TROs were in response to Comelec’s decisions to label five candidates as nuisances or to disqualify them, which led to the inclusion of these petitioners on the list of national and local candidates.
Determined to get back on track, Garcia committed to resuming the printing of official ballots by Wednesday, highlighting the urgency of the situation. He noted that any further delays could jeopardize the readiness for the elections, especially since two weeks had already been lost from Wednesday until April 14. The goal is to complete the ballot printing by the end of April.
In addition to these efforts, the Comelec also conducted a trusted build on Monday. This process is crucial for updating the Election Management System, the Automated Counting Machines, the Consolidation and Canvassing System, and the Online Voting and Counting System to reflect the necessary changes for the upcoming elections. The trusted build is a vital step that must be completed before new ballot face templates can be generated.