The Commission on Elections (Comelec) requested in its statement for the president to declare May 12 as an official holiday to give Filipinos the opportunity to vote. Directive No. 878, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, notes that the holiday is aimed at 'providing people the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.' Previous national elections determine key positions in Congress, as well as thousands of local positions. Earlier, the Commission on Elections announced that the Presidential Palace would declare the election day a holiday to ensure voter participation. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia stated in an interview with journalists: 'Comelec requested the President to declare May 12 as a holiday to provide Filipinos the opportunity to vote.' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared May 12, Monday, as a special non-working holiday to give Filipinos the chance to cast their votes in the upcoming elections.
