Manila, May 3 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started the delivery of 3.25 million ballots in Eastern Visayas this week as part of its heightened preparations for the upcoming midterm elections on May 12.

Comelec Eastern Visayas assistant regional director Maria Corazon Montallana said their central office started shipping the ballots to the region on April 30 and these are up for distribution to cities and municipalities on or before May 7.

"We will send the ballots to the provincial treasurer's office. They are mobilized to help facilitate the distribution of ballot boxes and election paraphernalia to all component municipalities and cities," she told reporters on Friday.

Independent cities receive their supplies directl...