The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) begins the printing of ballots for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections that will be held on October 23, 2017.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista took mediamen to the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City on Wednesday to show them the official start of the printing operations for this purpose.
Bautista said even if Senate and Congress have agreed to move the elections to May 2018, the poll body still has to begin the printing of ballots because the lawmakers' agreement has not been translated into a law formally declaring the change in election day.
NPO is printing for Comelec today 10,000 ballots for the island of Batanes.
The poll body will need a total of over 77 million ballots.
Ballot printing is expected to be finished by October 9, 2017.
Bautista said he was advised by the printing committee to go on with the procedure amid the uncertainties in the holding of the elections.
Comelec will also tackle the question on whether or not polls may be held in areas of conflict in Mindanao.