Duterte declares May 9 Election Day as special non-working holiday
President Rodrigo Duterte on May 5 declared May 9, the country's local and national elections, as a special non-working holiday.
JUST IN: President Duterte declares May 9 a special non-working holiday nationwide to allow Filipinos to exercise their right to vote | @alexisbromero pic.twitter.com/ylfdNjz1px
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 5, 2022
"There is a need to declare Monday, 09 May 2022, special (non-working) holiday to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote," Duterte said in Proclamation No. 1357, "subject to the public health measures of the national government."
The Commission on Elections said there are some 65.72 million registered voters this year, from 61.84 million in 2019. Of that figure, around 3.87 million Filipinos would be casting their votes for the first time.
Comelec George Garcia said confirmed COVID-19 patients who are under quarantine at home or in facilities won't be allowed to cast their votes on May 9.
Garcia, however, noted that individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, but not validated by test results, would be allowed to vote.
