Comelec starts NCR ballots deployment for Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday started the deployment of the first batch of the 7.5 million official printed ballots to be used in the National Capital Region (NCR) for Eleksyon 2025.

"Ngayong araw na 'to sisimulan na natin ang huling shipment, huling delivery ng mga balota. Sa NCR ito mangyayari," Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said.

(Today we will start the last shipment, last delivery of the ballots. This will happen in NCR.)

"Ibig sabihin, ang ibang rehiyon ay na-distribute na natin. Nasa mga Treasurer's Office na ng mga munisipyo at siyudad," Garcia said .

(This means the ballots for all the other regions have already been distributed. These are in the Treasurer's Office in municipalities and cities.)

According to Garcia, the ballots will be delivered on Tuesday to the Office of the Treasurer of Caloocan, Marikina, Valenzuela, Pasig, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Manila, Makati, Malabon, Navotas; and San Juan. 

The ballots will be collected by the members of the election registration board (ERB).

"Iniimbitahan natin ang mga political party, kandidato, interest groups, citizens arm, magpadala kayo ng representative sa opisina ng local treasurer. Expectedly ngayong araw, itong mga balota na ito madi-distribute sa siyudad na intended para sa araw na 'to para makita natin kung saan nila ilalagak," he added.

(We are inviting political parties, candidates, interest groups, and citizens arm to send their representatives to the office of the local treasurer. Today, we're expecting the ballots will be distributed and we want to see where the ballots will be stored.)  

Police escorted the trucks delivering the ballots, as seen in a video posted by GMA Integrated News reporter Sandra Aguinaldo.

VIDEO: Bumiyahe na ang mga truck na magdadala ng balota sa ilang siyudad sa Metro Manila. Ilalagak ang mga ito sa Treasurer’s Office. Mahigpit itong binabantayan ng mga pulis. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/37dWkfn55l

— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) May 5, 2025

“Kung napansin ninyo may mga seal ang mga trucks. Una, may serial number kasi ang lahat ng seal na inilagagay natin and therefore, properly accounted ang lahat nang 'yan. Ang mga plastic seals na 'yan basta 'yan ay naputol na, compromised na o hindi na mapagkakatiwalaan ang integridad kung pagdating sa lugar na intended ay nabreak na siya. Therefore, kinakailangan 'yung mismong provider alam nila ang serial number ng mga seal na mayroon ang mga truck na ito,” said Garcia.

(The trucks have seals with serial numbers. All of these are properly accounted. If the plastic seals were broken before arriving at the intended area then the integrity of the election paraphernalia is questionable.)

The Comelec completed the printing of the official ballots for the May 12 national and local polls in March. The distribution of the official ballots and other election paraphernalia started on April 21, 2025.

Meanwhile, the poll body said there was no untoward incident in the distribution of the ballots, automated counting machines (ACMs) and other election paraphernalia.

On track

Meanwhile, Garcia said the Comelec is “on track” for its preparations for the May 12 elections.

“On track lahat ang Comelec sa paghahanda sa elections sa Lunes. Tinitingnan na lang natin ang pag-deliver ng lahat  ng mga kagamitan, pag-conduct ng final testing and sealing sa iba’t ibang presinto sa bansa, inaalam na lang natin ang kalagayan ng mga balota, ‘yung security ng bawat lugar at mismong pag-deploy ng PNP at AFP personnel lalong-lalo na sa critical areas,” he said.

(The Comelec is on track on its preparations for the polls on Monday. We’re supervising the delivery of the election paraphernalia, the conduct of the final testing and sealing, the security condition in all areas and the deployment of the AFP and PNP personnel especially in critical areas.)

“At the same time, inaalam natin ang kalagayan ng mga guro. Sa kasalukuyan, wala pa tayong natatanggap ni isa na guro na nagsasabi na sila ay di makakapaglingkod sa araw ng elections,” he added.

(At the same time, were looking at the status of our teachers. So far, we have yet to receive report of teachers saying they cannot serve on the day of the elections.)

—KG/AOL, GMA Integrated News

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