The preparations for the May 10, 2010 elections go into high gear as the 11-day period for the filing of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) for 17,888 elective positions and the manifestation of intent to participate in the party-list system of representation starts Friday.

The Comelec, led by Chairman Jose A.R. Melo, said the Law Department, where the CoCs for President, Vice President and Senator are to be filed, is open daily from November 20 to 30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; and on Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to midnight to attend to the filers.

Melo said the CoCs for members of the House of Representatives in the National Capital Region NCR) are to be filed with NCR Regional Director Michael D. Dioneda.

Other Comelec offices where the CoCs should be filed are the Provincial Election Supervisors for members of the House of Representatives of legislative districts in provinces and for provincial officials; City Election Officer concerned designated for the purpose by the Regional Director for members of the House of Representatives for legislative districts in cities outside the NCR, which compose one or more legislative districts, and for officials of cities with more than one election officer; and City/Municipal Election Officer concerned for city/municipal officials.

Comelec officials said the CoCs should be in the form prescribed by the Commission, in five legible copies and filed by the candidates personally or by their duly authorized representatives.

The CoCs not filed with the correct offices will not be accepted, Comelec warned.

In the case of the manifestation of intent to participate in the party-list polls, Melo said it should be filed with the Clerk of the Commission in 12 legible copies.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said their people are ready for the filing of the CoC because they have long been instructed to prepare for this day.

Commissioner Lucenito Tagle, for his part, said that only candidates running for national positions and party-list groups can file their CoC’s at the Comelec’s main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Meanwhile, Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) spokesperson, has only one reminder to those who are planning to file their Cocs.

“I hope whoever files their CoC will think of bringing about change because if they don’t think of that nothing will happen to our country,” said Quitorio.

He said this is also the reason why he’s looking forward to Friday’s start of the filing of the CoC to know the possible candidates, particularly for the presidency.

“I’m looking forward to the real ones whose real goal is to bring change to the Philippine society. That is where I’m particularly excited,” said Quitorio.