The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has assured the strict implementation of the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of automated counting machines (ACMs) nationwide from May 2 to May 7, 2025.
COMELEC Chairman George Garcia said the purpose of the FTS is to ensure that the machines work properly and are safe to use on election day.
“The most important thing in the final sealing and testing is to determine if the machine is defective. Is there something missing on the speaker, the headphone so on and so forth, what is missing is easy to provide Garcia said.
Garcia said they have 16,000 contigency machines on standby if there are units to be replaced.
The quality and detail of the ballots are also checked to ensure they are compatible with the precinct.
In addition, storage devices such as SD and USB are also inspected to ensure the correct number and safe storage of votes.
Garcia said that if the machine is damaged, it will be replaced immediately with the standby units in their local offices.
(Comelec FB page screengrab)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.