An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Sunday appealed to all presidential and vice-presidential candidates to take one day off their campaigns to visit the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City and the Cabuyao warehouse where the precint count optical scan (PCOS) machines are kept.

“They have been going around the country for sometime already. Just set aside one day for them to just see the facilities at NPO and the Cabuyao Laguna warehouse,” Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said in an interview.

The poll official issued the appeal since majority of the candidates have yet to reply to their invitation that they sent out last week.

So far, Larrazabal said, only Bangon Pillipinas standard bearer Bro. Eddie Villanueva replied to their invitation out of the nine presidential candidates they have invited for the March 11 visit.

“Villanueva cannot go but he will send a senatorial candidate,” he said.

Larrazabal said among the vice-presidential candidates who expressed willingness to go were Jay Sonza of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and Dominador Chipeco of the Ang Kapatiran.

He said he is hoping that politicians will eventually see the importance of the visit so they can see for themselves the preparations that the Comelec has been doing for the May 10 polls.

“I hope it will change. I cannot emphasize enough that the candidates should go. So they’ll see what’s being done,” said Larrazabal.

“Politicians easily adapt. For example there’s an important event they can easily change their schedule to go to that event. Why not do it now?” he added.