COMPARED to the first two automated polls held in 2010 and 2013, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday that it is more prepared to conduct the forthcoming May 9 national and local polls.
"I believe that when we compare our preparation to the preparation of the Comelec in 2010 and 2013, I can say that we are better prepared now for our elections," said Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista in an interview during the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of vote counting machines (VCMs) at the Araullo High School in Manila.
He reported that they are performing better in terms of preparing for the May 9 elections based on their Key Performance Indicators checklist.
The poll body chief noted that the record breaking completion of the printing and verification of the official ballots by the National Printing Office (NPO) in 49 days.
Bautista added that they are set to complete the deployment of the official ballots and all the VCMs have been deployed in the seven regional hubs, namely in La Union, Laguna, Albay, Cebu, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and South Cotabato.
Aside from the VCMs to be used in all polling precincts, the poll body also deployed to the regional hubs a total of 5,000 replacement VCMs.
"They (replacement VCMs) were also deployed in different parts of the country. This is so we can immediately deploy them in the event of glitches," Bautista said.
Meanwhile, the Comelec – National Capital Region (NCR) held the FTS in the cities of Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, and Pasig.
Comelec – NCR Director Temie Lambino said FTS will also be conducted in other cities of Metro Manila until May 5.
A total of 17 VCMs have been successfully tested and sealed by the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) at the Araullo High School.
After the VCM has undergone the FTS, the machines will only be opened on election day at the start of the voting. (Sunnex)