Bautista says Comelec is more prepared now compared to the first two automated polls

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista
(Photo: Comelec’s official Twitter account)

MANILA – Compared to the first two automated polls held in 2010 and 2013, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday that it is more prepared to conduct the forthcoming polls.

“I believe that when we compare our preparations to the preparations 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 the record-breaking completion of the printing and verification of the official ballots by the National Printing Office (NPO) in 49 days.

Bautista said they are set to complete the deployment of the official ballots while all the VCMs have been deployed in the seven regional hubs, namely: 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.

Meanwhile, the Comelec-National Capital Region (NCR) held the FTS in the cities of Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, and Pasig.

Comelec-NCR Director Atty. 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, it will only be opened on Election Day at the start of the voting.