Comelec to hold field tests for Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to conduct field testing in some precincts across the country and abroad as part of the preparations for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE). 

According to Comelec, the field testing—which includes testing on election machines, applications, transmissions, and procedures performed in an actual location—will be held on November 16, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in six provinces, 15 cities or municipalities in the Philippines, and five areas overseas. 

Among the targeted precincts are in Batanes, Palawan, Tawi-Tawi, Davao del Sur, Manila, Taguig, and 64 barangays in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) in the Bangsamoro Region. Overseas precincts includes those in Japan, Greece, Qatar, and the US. 

During the test, field testers will report the attendance at the area and status of each activity; check the contents of the box of the automated counting machines (ACMs); install the ACMs; and monitor the voting, counting, canvassing procedures. 

The poll body will also evaluate the performance of the ACMs and its peripherals, CCS [consolidated canvassing system] and OVCS [online voting and counting system] in the actual scenario on election day; verify the functionality of transmission; ensure seamless integration of all systems for use in the 2025 NLE; and identify any issues and propose improvement to the system.

“Sa field testing hindi lang ACMs ang involved,”  said Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia. 

(The ACMs are not only the peripherals involved in the field testing.)

“Kung may apat [na presinto] sa isang munisipyo, ‘yung munisipyo na ‘yun may CCS. So that ‘yung apat na presinto, magta-transmit sa CCS ng munisipyo  na nandun located mismo kung san gagawin ang canvassing. At the same time, ‘pag nag-transmit ang mismong munisipyo, nakatransmit ‘yan sa PPCRV server, NAMFREL server, central server, media server…at majority party, minority party [server],” Garcia said.

(If a municipality has four precincts, that municipality will have a CCS. So the four precincts will transmit to the CCS located where the canvassing will be done. At the same time, when the municipality transmits, it transmits to the PPCRV server, NAMFREL server, central server, media server, and servers of the majority and minority parties.)

Meanwhile, the Comelec received over 85,000 out of 110,000 machines to be used for the 2025 NLE from South Korean firm Miru Systems Inc. 

“Natanggap na po ng COMELEC ang 85,944 ACMs hanggang ngayong November 13, 2024. Katumbas po ito ng 78.13% ng kabuuang 110,000 ACMs na commitment sa atin ng MIRU systems,” said Garcia on X (formerly Twitter).

(The Comelec has received 85,944 ACMs as of November 13, 2024. This accounts for 78.13% of the total 110,000 ACMs committed to us by MIRU systems.)

The remaining ACMs are in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and is set to be delivered to the poll body, he added. — BM, GMA Integrated News