Comelec preparations for midterm polls on track – Garcia
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia (Photo screengrabbed from Comelec)
MANILA, Philippines — With six days left before the midterm elections, the Commission on Elections’ preparations are on track, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday.
Six days away, kung napansin niyo, hindi na ganoon kabigat na yung mga natitirang paghahanda. Ito, monitoring na lang, supervision, and then reporting na lang more or less ang hinihintay natin doon sa mga nagawa na natin,” Garcia said in an interview at the National Printing Office in Quezon City.
(Six days away, if you will notice, our preparations are no longer that hectic. We’re just monitoring, supervising, and reporting completed tasks.)
The Comelec also reported that it began shipping the last batch of ballots for the National Capital Region.
READ: Comelec delivers last shipment of ballots for NCR numbering 7.5 million
Garcia shared that the poll body secured certification that the automated counting machines (ACMs) for the elections “can operate properly, securely, and accurately.”
He noted that this is the last step to ensure that the machines will be fully functional on election day.
“On track po ang inyong Commission on Elections sa paghahanda sa eleksyon sa Lunes. Halos tinitignan natin, sinusubaybayan na lang natin yung pagdeliver lahat ng kagamitan, yung pag-conduct ng final testing and sealing sa iba’t ibang presinto sa buong bansa,” Garcia added.
(The Commission on Elections is on track for its preparations for the elections on Monday. We are monitoring of the delivery of all materials, the conduct of final testing, and sealing in different polling precincts in the country.)
Garcia also said that the poll body is set to conclude its final testing and sealing for the ACMs on Wednesday.
He, however, said that they allowed some areas to extend it until Thursday.
During the final testing and sealing, teachers serving as electoral board members will test the ACMs and official ballots with 10 registered voters in every polling precinct to ensure that the machines are working properly in front of everyone.
READ: Comelec assures AES ‘can operate properly, securely, and accurately’
He also said that the poll body is monitoring the security and deployment of personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially in critical areas.
He mentioned that they are also preparing for the early voting period of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
“At the same time, inaalam din natin ang kalagayan ng ating mga guro. Sa kasalukuyan, wala tayong natatanggap ni isa na gurong nagsasabing sila ay di makapaglilingkod sa araw ng eleksyon,” Garcia said.
(At the same time, we are assessing the condition of our teachers. We currently have not received reports from any teacher that they will not be able to fulfill their duties on election day.)
