In preparation for the upcoming May 12, 2025, midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will establish machine repair hubs in every province across the Philippines, including Iloilo. This is the first time such hubs will be set up to address technical issues with automated counting machines during elections.
Atty. Dennis Ausan, Regional Election Director for COMELEC Region 6, revealed this initiative in an interview with Bombo Radyo. He explained that the establishment of these repair hubs is aimed at expediting the repair of malfunctioning automated counting machines, ensuring a smoother election process.
Previously, in 2022, malfunctioning machines from Western Visayas had to be sent to Cebu for repairs, causing delays and logistical difficulties. With the new initiative, each clustered precinct will be equipped with one machine, along with additional contingency machines to be deployed in case any of the main machine’s malfunction.
In Western Visayas, there are a total of 20,077 established precincts, serving approximately 3.1 million registered voters. The automated machines are expected to arrive by April 2025. As per COMELEC’s resolution, final testing and sealing of the machines will take place from May 2 to May 7, 2025, ahead of the election day.
This move is part of COMELEC’s efforts to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process in the upcoming elections.
