Comelec approves 110 hubs for vote automation system

The COMELEC successfully conducted the Hardware Acceptance Test (HAT) of the twenty (20) Automated Counting Machines initially delivered today at the COMELEC warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on May 20, 2024. All ACMs to be delivered by Miru Systems, the automated elections system (AES) provider for the 2025 National and Local Elections, must undergo stringent accuracy testing, such as the HAT, before they can be officially received by the COMELEC. —COMELEC PHOTO

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the establishment of 110 technical hubs by Miru Systems Joint Venture, the poll body’s automation service provider, in all provinces of the country to handle repair and configuration issues during the elections.

Minute Resolution No. 24-0861, adopted last Monday and made public on Wednesday, stated that at least one technical hub will be established per province and shall become operational from May 6, 2025 until the conclusion of the elections.

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia earlier said the provision for technical hubs was included in the contract with Miru so that faulty automated counting machines would not have to be brought all the way to the Comelec warehouse in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna for repairs or reconfiguration.

In Metro Manila, the technical hubs will be set up in San Juan, Makati and Valenzuela cities. In Cebu province, technical hubs will be located in Cebu, Carcar and Danao cities, and Tudela town in the Camotes Islands.

Northern, central and southern Palawan will have technical hubs located in Coron, Puerto Princesa City and Brooke’s Point.

Tawi-tawi will have technical hubs in the capital Bongao, as well as in Mapun and the Turtle Islands, while Masbate will have one each in Masbate City, San Pascual town on Burias Island and San Jacinto town on Ticao Island.

‘Nuisance’ candidates

Meanwhile, the poll body has uploaded on its website the certificates of candidacy and certificates of nomination and acceptance of all 183 senatorial aspirants. Last Oct. 16, Comelec approved the candidacies of 66 aspirants while 117 others were subjected to petitions to declare them as “nuisance” candidates.