Palace declares May 13 as special non-working holiday due to polls

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has declared May 13 (Monday), Election Day, as a special non-working holiday nationwide.

In Proclamation No. 719, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of the President, May 13 was declared as a holiday to "enable people to properly exercise their right to vote."

"I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Monday 13 May 2019, a special (non-working) holiday throughout the country for the National and Local elections,” the proclamation read.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it is ready to serve at least 60 million voters, who will exercise their right to vote.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have also been deployed, especially in election hot spots to prevent occurrence of any violence.

Duterte has repeatedly asked the PNP and AFP to remain neutral during the campaign period and election.

There will also be sufficient power supply in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao amid concerns of possible interruptions or rotational brownouts, according to the Department of Energy. (PNA /By Azer Parrocha )