THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) successfully conducted mock polls on Friday, January 24, 2025, as part of its preparations for the May 2025 national and local, and Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
In a brief statement, Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced the completion of the mock polls, which were held in 30 barangays across the country.
"Mock elections completed," Garcia declared.
"This is part of our preparations and efforts to ensure that the election process will be orderly for our people," he added.
He noted that they were able to achieve 100 percent transmission from the polling precincts to municipal/city canvassing centers, the central server, poll watchdog servers, media servers, and servers of both majority and minority political parties, as well as the backup servers.
Garcia also mentioned that they were able to conduct 100 percent transmission from the Municipal Board of Canvassers to the Provincial Board of Canvassers and then to the National Board of Canvassers.
Under Republic Act No. 9369, the conduct of mock elections is one of the requirements by the Technical Evaluation Committee before issuing its certification that the automated election system is operating properly, securely, and accurately.
The selected venues for the mock polls in Metro Manila include Barangays San Pedro and Sta. Ana in Pateros; Ususan and Pinagsama in Taguig City; and Barangays Poblacion and Pio del Pilar in Makati City.
In Luzon, the mock polls were held in Barangays Poblacion and Guinaang in Bontoc and Poblacion and Angkeling in Sagada in Mt. Province; as well as in Barangays Dela Paz and San Juan in Antipolo City, and Special District and Bagumbong in Jala-Jala, Rizal.
In the Visayas, Barangays Taboc and San Gabriel in Borongan and Poblacion 9 and Masloc in Lawaan, Eastern Samar were selected as mock poll sites.
In Mindanao, the mock elections took place in Barangays Washington and San Isidro in Surigao, and Poblacion and Guinaang in Placer, Surigao del Norte.
Mock polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were held in Barangays Walled City and Bus-bus in Jolo; Taglibi and Anuling in Patikul, Sulu; and Batulawan and Fort Pikit in Malidegao, as well as Pedtad and Tamped in Old Kaabakan in the Special Geographic Area. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)