President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday declared May 9 a non-working holiday for the national elections to allow Filipinos to vote.
Duterte, through Proclamation No. 1357, said the declaration is meant to provide Filipinos with the opportunity to properly exercise their right to vote.
READ: How to Vote on May 9: Here's a Step-by-Step Guide
Some 67.5 million registered voters are set to cast their vote on Monday in an election that will decide the country's fate as Filipinos reel from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The election will choose a president, vice president, 12 senators, 300 lower house legislators, and about 18,000 officials across 7,600 islands, including mayors, governors, and their deputies.
Each voter must select one candidate for each post, from president, vice president and senate, all the way down to their local district councilors. Winners serve three-year terms, except for the president, vice president, and senators, who serve six years.
READ: GUIDE: Mall Hours in Metro Manila on Election Day May 9
-with a report from Reuters