Japan donates ICT equipment to Comelec

The Japanese government has donated millions worth of information and communication technology (ICT) equipment to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The Japanese embassy, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), turned over the devices to the poll body during a ceremony on Wednesday, which included 40 Starlink units. 

Present during the signing and turnover ceremony were Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, and UNDP Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran. 

“Ang Embassy ng Japan at ang gobyerno ng Japan ay magbibigay ng mga donations sa Comelec facilities katulad ng Starlink at ilan pang transmission devices,” Garcia told reporters. 

(The Japanese embassy and Japanese government will donate ICT equipment to Comelec facilities.)

“Ide-deploy namin ‘yan sa mga lugar na medyo mahihina ang signal. Minsan nahihirapan ang aming mga tauhan na magpadala ng reports sa amin tulad ng mga areas sa Bangsamoro,” he added. 

(We will deploy that in areas with weak signals like some areas in Bangsamoro.)

According to the poll chief, the transmission devices will not be used for the 2025 national and local elections but for Comelec offices in far-flung areas. He said that for Eleksyon 2025, the poll body has 7,000 Starlink units to be deployed in areas with limited connectivity. 

“Ito ay hindi natin gagamitin sa transmission. Itong mga ibibigay sa atin ay gagamitin lang sa mga opisina ng Comelec. Ang transmission natin, we have 7,000 Starlinks to be used nationwide, dun sa mga lugar na mahihina ang signal ng telcos,” he said. 

(We will not use this for the transmission of votes but for our offices in far-flung areas. We have 7,000 Starlink units to be used for areas with limited connectivity.)

Meanwhile, Garcia said the UNDP will submit a report on the voter education and modernization of the elections in the Bangsamoro Region to the Comelec, which the poll body may use in crafting policies related to the autonomous region. 

Japan also expressed interest to observe in the country’s first-ever internet voting, said Garcia.

“The Japanese government expressed its highest interest in monitoring, and be an observer in the Bangsamoro during the conduct of this elections,” said the poll chief. 

“In fact, they told the chairman they would be sending a group of observers in the Bangsamoro. Kahit sa elections natin, magpapadala sila ng independent mission for the observation of the elections,” he added. 

(Even in our elections, they will send an independent mission to observe the polls.)

The Philippines is set to hold its midterm elections on May 12, 2025. Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections will be conducted on October 13, 2025. —LDF, GMA Integrated News