DOE mulls proposing another holiday for canvassing of votes

To keep the power supply in check during the canvassing of votes, the Department of Energy (DOE) is studying the possibility of recommending it as a holiday.

"Pinag-aaralan po natin 'yan at kung sakali  ay puwede paglabas ng pag aaral ay puwede nating imungkahi ang ganoong bagay," DOE Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Director Mario Marasigan said in an interview on GMA News' Balitanghali on Friday.

May 13, election day, has been declared a holiday.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has scheduled May 13-16 for the counting and canvassing of precinct results and proclamation of the winning city and municipal elective officials.

From May 17 to 19, 2019 , Comelec will canvass results and proclaim winners for senatorial, congressional, party-list, regional, and provincial elections

Marasigan was asked if the Energy department is looking into the possibility of recommending as another holiday, the day after the May 13 elections in which the votes will be canvassed.

The DOE official said there is no expected supply deficiency on the day of election because demand will be subdued as most of government and private sector activities will be suspended for the holiday.

"Pero pagdating ng susunod na araw, ng bilangan doon naman sasabay ang pagpasok... 'yan po ang binabantayan po nating maigi," Marasigan said, noting that demand may start to peak as government and business activities resume normal operations. —Ted Cordero/LDF, GMA News