The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to declare May 9, election day, a special non-working holiday.
The Comelec en banc, in Resolution No. 10784, said there was a need to declare May 9 a special non-working holiday “to afford the registered voters the fullest opportunity to participate in the said election and exercise their right to vote.”
The commission’s request was promulgated on April 27.
Local absentee voting began on Wednesday. It will run until April 29.
Duterte earlier urged voters to always adhere to the government’s health protocols to prevent a possible surge in Covid-19 cases after the 2022 elections.
Experts have warned of an uptick in cases in the coming weeks due to social gatherings during religious and elections-related activities.
The Philippines recently approved the administration of a second booster shot to address waning immunity against Covid-19. John Ezekiel J. Hirro