MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday it is ready for the plebiscite on a new Bangsamoro territory in Mindanao on January 21.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they have prepared 2.1 million ballots for voters of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cotabato City, and Isabela City in Basilan, where the plebiscite will be held on Monday.

The rest of the core territories, including contiguous areas that asked to be included in the new Bangsamoro area, will get to vote on Feb. 6.

Jimenez said they have prepared 600,000 to 700,000 ballots for the Feb. 6 plebiscite.

"Everything is ready and we’re really just waiting for the day itself," Jimenez told ANC.

Jimenez reminded voters to read the question properly and to vote using the words "yes" or "no" in English, Filipino, or the dialect they speak.

"For voters, please make sure that you are reading the question properly, make sure that you understand what it means to vote the way you intend to vote. Most importantly, go out and vote," he said.

"It’s only a 'yes' or 'no', it can be in English, in Filipino, it can be in any dialect they speak as long as it’s a 'yes' or 'no'. We will not accept any symbol as a substitute for the words 'yes' and 'no.'"

Jimenez said the counting will be manual and full results will most likely be released four days after the close of voting.