Election Day a special holiday; ballot shipments for NCR start

Malacañang has declared May 12, the day of mid-term elections, as a special non-working holiday throughout the country.

- BY BETHEENA UNITE and DHEL NAZARIO

Through Proclamation No. 878, President Marcos declared May 12 as a national holiday to enable Filipino voters to cast their votes for the national and local elections.

"There is a need to declare Monday, 12 May 2025, as a special [nonworking] holiday to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote," Marcos said in the proclamation signed on Tuesday, May 6.

The declaration came after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged President Marcos to declare May 12 as a holiday to allow registered voters to cast their ballots.

Ballots for NCR

The poll body started the first shipment of official ballots for the National Capital Region (NCR), six days before the May 2025 midterm polls.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia announced the delivery of all 7.5 million ballots designated for NCR voters following the successful distribution to other regions, where ballots are already secured in municipal and city treasurers' offices.