MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it is prepared to hold the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE) this year, pending the passage of a law officially setting the poll date.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the polls are scheduled for September 14, 2026, once Congress enacts the measure.

“Yes. We are ready. When we participated in the hearings on the drafting of the law in the Senate and House of Representatives, it became clear that Congress was unanimous in setting Sept. 14, 2026, as the date of the BPE,” Laudiangco said during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

He added that the poll body will release a calendar of activities, implementing rules, and prohibited acts once the law is enacted.

Laudiangco emphasized that there is sufficient time to prepare for the polls, citing past delays.

“The March 30, 2026 BPE was postponed due to districting issues and the lack of time for voter education campaigns. Since there are still a few months, preparations can be completed,” he said.

The BPE will be automated, using the same election system deployed during the May 2025 midterm elections. Laudiangco noted that the system, provided by Miru Systems Inc., a South Korean-based company, is proven and will only require customization and configuration for the parliamentary elections.

“The technology is clear and reliable. With the law passed promptly, everything can be completed in time,” he added.

The May 2025 polls used some 100,000 automated counting machines, demonstrating the system’s capability to handle large-scale automated elections in the BARMM.