Comelec needs 3,000 ACMs for possible rescheduled BARMM polls – Garcia

Comelec chair George Garcia speaking in a news conference at the Comelec BARMM regional office hours before the acceptance of COCs by the poll body. (Photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 by DXMS RADIO.)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be needing over 3,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) if the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary elections get rescheduled to a later date, according to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Thursday.

Garcia said that the poll body will apply an automated system of elections for the BARMM Parliamentary elections for the approximately 2.3 million voters in the region.

READ: Vote counting machines for 2025 polls hurdle shading threshold test

“For the 2.3 million, about 3,000 machines will be needed. This does not yet include what we call contingency machines or the machines that will be used in case the others fail,” Garcia said partly in Filipino during an ambush interview.

“We will use around 3,200 to 3,300 machines,” Garcia added in Filipino.

Garcia reiterated that the poll body will need additional P2.5 billion for the conduct of the BARMM polls.

He said that aside from the teacher’s pay that will comprise 65 percent of the funds, they will also have to spend them on ballot printing, leasing of machines, transmission results, and salary of Comelec workers.

READ: Garcia: Comelec has no funds for BARMM parliamentary elections resetting

The bill rescheduling the Parliamentary elections from May 12, 2025, to October 13, 2025, was ratified and approved in the bicameral conference committee report by the Senate on Tuesday. It is now awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.