MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday welcomed the inclusion of a bill seeking to reset the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections to September in the government’s priority measures, even as it noted some challenges in preparing for the polls under the amended Bangsamoro Electoral Code.

At the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Tuesday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved 21 priority bills, including those resetting the inaugural parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“Base sa ating impormasyon, mukhang si Presidente mismo ang nagsabi na kung kakailanganin na mag-certify siya bilang urgent ang batas na ito ay gagawin niya para lamang masigurado na magkaroon ng elections sa September na ito,” Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia said in an ambush interview.

“’Yun ay welcome na welcome sa amin sapagkat kailangan na kailangan naming ng batas kaagad sapagakat dyan magsisismula ang mga pagkilos ng Comelec base sa mga detalye na gagawin dapat namin,” he added.

The elections were postponed for the fourth time in January due to legal and operational constraints, including delays in passing the BARMM redistricting law. Despite the postponement, Comelec said it is prepared to conduct the polls if moved to September this year.

Garcia noted challenges following the approval of Bangsamoro Act No. 88, which amended the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, including removing the “none of the above” option and changing how sectoral representatives are elected.

“Technically, kinakailangan by June 1 mayroon na kaming final list sa lahat – parliamentary district, political parties at sectoral upang mailagay na yan sa database na gagamitin sa automated elections. Dapat by June 1, masimulan na makapag-imprenta,” Garcia said.

He added that the Comelec will only have March to May to accredit political parties and sectoral organizations. The agency also faces challenges printing ballots for at least 200 sectoral organizations due to budget and machine limitations at the National Printing Office.

On January 20, BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua signed Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 86, defining 32 parliamentary districts, which will serve as the basis for the elections. Seats are allocated as follows: nine for Lanao del Sur; five each for Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur; four each for Basilan and Tawi-Tawi; three for Cotabato City; and two for the Special Geographic Area.