The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, that its field offices in Mindanao remained undamaged following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on Monday, June 8.
In an interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia confirmed that no personnel were harmed during the calamity. "So far, none of our staff have been injured," Garcia told reporters. "As for our offices, there were no damages as well, except for the overturning of cabinets."
Earthquake Impact and Assessment
The powerful earthquake, which hit Sarangani province on Monday morning, was felt across other parts of Mindanao. It caused damage to several buildings, with some structures collapsing entirely. Despite this, Garcia emphasized that the poll body's immediate priority was to ensure the safety and readiness of facilities for the upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) scheduled for September 2026.
Garcia revealed that he had ordered a thorough assessment of all establishments designated as voting centers for the BPE. He specifically directed field personnel in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to inspect school buildings and other venues that will house polling precincts on September 14.
Preparations for Voting Centers
"We have instructed our field personnel to find out and assess the condition of the schools we will be using for BPE," Garcia stated. "We want to know if we will need to move from the exact location where the election will be held or if we can just stay there."
If relocation becomes necessary, the poll chief indicated a preference for establishing makeshift polling precincts near the original sites rather than identifying alternative voting centers that might be inconvenient for voters. "We have no intentions of moving the voting centers, especially if this will result in voters being far away from the places where they are to vote," he explained.
Makeshift Polling Precincts
"Similar to what we did in similar situations, what the Comelec can do is set up makeshift voting centers in areas near the affected schools so that our countrymen can vote right there," added Garcia. This approach ensures that accessibility remains a priority despite potential structural damages.
According to Comelec data, the BPE will feature 5,212 clustered precincts operating across 1,186 voting centers. The commission remains committed to conducting the elections smoothly while adapting to the challenges posed by the recent earthquake.
