The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is prepared for the arrival of automated counting machines (ACMs) for the May 12 midterm elections.
Comelec-NIR Assistant Regional Director Jossil Macute confirmed that designated hubs for storing the ACMs have been identified. “The official cargo forwarder of the ACMs is closely coordinating with the Comelec, and we have identified the hubs where these units are to be stored until they are delivered to the different local government units in the NIR,” he said.
The machines will be shipped via a commercial vessel and are expected to arrive on April 17. They will be kept in holding areas before being distributed to local government units (LGUs) a few days before the elections for final testing and counting.
Negros Occidental will receive 2,484 ACMs, Negros Oriental 1,289, and Siquijor 149, corresponding to the number of clustered precincts. An additional 50 to 70 ACMs will be available as backups in case of technical issues.
ACMs for Canlaon City and other LGUs near Mt. Kanlaon, which faces a possible eruption, will also be delivered on schedule. Comelec and the Office of Civil Defense have developed a contingency plan in case an Alert Level 4 scenario occurs on election day or beforehand.
Macute assured that the elections would proceed in affected areas despite any volcanic activity, as authorities have prepared for the worst-case scenario.