An official of the Commission on Elections 11 (Comelec 11) declared on Friday that the final testing and sealing (FTS) of the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) that will be used for the upcoming 2025 national and local elections was successful.
Lawyer Gay Enumerables, Assistant Regional Director of Comelec 11, said that the last FTS was conducted in Sulop, Davao del Sur on Thursday.
“We could say na successful ang atong FTS kasi kanang mga glitches, ug naay mga kulang mao na ang tuyo nganong conduct ta ug FTS para before election day ma-resolba na daan kung naay nakitaan nga mga problema. We are very much grateful na nahuman na ang atoang FTS. All in all, 100% na ta sa atoang mga makina and then ang atong FTS ipahigayon kini didto na sa mga voting centers,” Enumerables said.
Comelec 11 commenced the FTS of the ACMs in some polling precincts on May 6 ahead of the midterm elections.
During FTS, the electoral board members (ERBs) conducted an end-to-end test of the ACMs, including the initialization of the machines.
Enumerables added that a total of 1,173 ACMs were delivered for the region’s voting centers in time for the May 12 elections.
Meanwhile, Enumerables advised the public to properly shade the ballot.
“Among i-emphasize on election day, there is no need for us anymore to do experimentation. Dili nata mag experiment sa atoang shading. Magshade ta ug tarong, shade the circle properly para mabasa ang atoang balota. There is no need for us to make drawings or any markings outside the circle kay election day na. Baka magreklamo mo later, uy wala man gibasa ang among balota because you did not shade properly or wala gyud ninyo gi-shade. Amo gina-encourage ang tanan na proper shading lang ta sa balota before the name of the candidate,” she said.
Archdiocesan Citizens Engagement Committee – Parish Pastoral for Responsible Voting (Ace-Com-PPCRV Davao) spokesperson lawyer Aileen Lizada also encouraged voters to shade their ballots properly to avoid lost votes.
“Para sa mga botante we did the final testing and sealing among gibuhat sa FTS more or less nag stress test mi sa machine. Ang ending nito please shade properly. Number one sa FTS nagbutang mi ug lain laing na markers diagonal, horizontal, vertical, circle inside the circle, unsay nahitabo? If you do not shade inside the circle dili gyud na siya counted so please shade properly. Number 2 ayaw mo ug gamit ug dot, naay mga dots na mabasa ug naay mga dots na dili mabasa. There is a certain threshold na kailangan sa loob ng circle,” Lizada said.
Lizada also urged the voters not to overvote and bring “kodigo” in going to their respective polling precinct.
“Ayaw pag overvote kay sayang kung mag overvote. Please prepare your kodigo and shade properly,” Lizada said.
