20K vote counting machines to arrive in August - Comelec

Source: The Manila times
Author: William B. Depasupil

MANILA, Philippines -- Barring unforeseen events, production and delivery of the 110,000 automated counting machines (ACM) to be used in the elections in 2025 will be completed by the end of the year, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said.

The initial batch of 20,000 ACMs will arrive in the country from the Miru Systems manufacturing plant in South Korea in August.

"Delivery of the 110,000 ACMs would be completed by December," added Garcia.

He said that the poll body is coordinating with the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to facilitate the immediate release of the ACMs.

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The 20,000 machines will be tested upon arrival to determine if they work in accordance with the terms of reference and other customization agreement between the commission and the joint venture of MIRU Systems.

The first 20 counting machines manufactured by Miru were immediately shipped to the Philippines for testing at the Comelec technology hub in Sta, Rosa, Laguna. All units passed the test with flying colors.

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Garcia said all units that will arrive will undergo the same test.

He said that after the hardware test, the next step is the software system test or the review of the "source code," which would be made open to the public and IT experts to determine the vulnerability of the machine.