03/06/2026
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๐๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ (๐๐๐)
June 2, 2026, Manila โ Bilang bahagi nang maaga at masusing paghahanda para sa May 8, 2028 National and Local Elections (NLE), isinagawa ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ang Stakeholder Forum at Presentasyon ng Draft Terms of Reference (TOR) para sa Automated Election Systems (AES), na binubuo ng Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), Election Management System (EMS), at Consolidated Canvassing System (CCS). Dinaluhan ito ng mga kinatawan mula sa ibaโt ibang sektor kabilang ang election stakeholders, civil society organizations, election observers, technical experts, information technology practitioners, at mga ahensya ng pamahalaan upang talakayin at magbigay ng mga rekomendasyon hinggil sa susunod na henerasyon ng election technologies na gagamitin sa mga halalan sa ating bansa.
Sa kanyang mensahe, sinabi ni Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand P. Maceda, Jr., Commissioner-in-Charge ng COMELEC Steering Committee ng 2028 National and Local Elections, ang kahalagahan ng transparency at verifiability sa pagpapatupad ng automated elections: โOne of the most valuable lessons from the 2025 NLE is that electoral integrity cannot rely solely on the accuracy of an automated system. It must also be demonstrably verifiable. Stakeholders, election observers, civil society organizations, and technical experts, all of us in this room, have consistently emphasized the need for even stronger transparency mechanisms, even clearer audit trails, and even more accessible documentation throughout the electoral process. We accept that these are not criticisms to be dismissed; we acknowledge that they are contributions that help strengthen democratic institutions. And in response, your Commission has taken concrete and positive action. These recommendations have been carefully considered and are now expressly integrated in the Terms of Reference for Fastrack 2.0โ
Ipinaliwanag naman ni COMELEC Information Technology Department Director Jeannie V. Flororita ang mahahalagang bahagi ng preparasyon bago ang araw ng halalan, kabilang na ang mga teknikal at administratibong proseso na nagsisilbing pundasyon ng Election Management System:
โFor the pre-election stage, which begins a year or at least six to nine months before election day, COMELEC undertakes critical preparatory work. This includes finalizing the project of precincts, defining voting jurisdictions, consolidating candidatesโ information, and organizing the Electoral Board and the Board of Canvassers. These datasets, together with the digital certificates of the Electoral Board and Board of Canvassers, form the backbone of the Election Management System.โ
โEqually important is the ACM configuration. This dictates how the ACM will operate, specifying which clustered precincts it will read, what ballots it will accept, and the reports it will generate. In short, the configuration ensures that the system functions accurately and consistently, aligned with the Terms of Reference of the Automated Election System.โ
Nagpahayag din ng suporta si Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry R. Aguda sa mga hakbang ng COMELEC upang mapalakas ang kahandaan para sa mga susunod na halalan sa pagsasabing: โIโd like to commend the approach nila Chairman at buong En Banc to start early. So ngayon pa lang, sinisimulan na natin yung draft pa lang ng TOR pero may stakeholdersโ consultation. Kami naman kasi sa DICT, weโre part of the COMELEC Advisory Council, and we are also happy na sabay din kami nagsimula. And sabi nga ni Chairman, we will closely work together to ensure na yung constitutional mandate sa amin, to make sure the election happens without any problem sa 2028, ay mangyari.โ
Muli sa bahagi ng COMELEC, ipinabatid ni Commissioner Rey E. Bulay ang mahalagang papel ng lahat ng election partners sa responsable at maingat na pagpapalaganap ng election results at impormasyon: โSana po partners tayo sa election na ito. Hindi lang po yung responsibilidad ng paglalabas ng resulta, kundi po yung pagiging maingat sa paglalabas ng resulta. Halimbawa po, yung ranks namin inayos muna bago ilabas ang tamang figures. Dapat po lahat ng accredited organizations ng COMELEC should do the same.โ
Sa kanyang pangwakas na mensahe, ipinaalala ni Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia ang pangangailangang patuloy na pagbutihin ang election technology upang matugunan ang lumalaking bilang ng mga botante, lalo na ng kabataan, at higit pang mapalakas ang transparency at accountability ng proseso ng halalan.
โOur voting population is still growing. Ang mga kabataan po ay sobrang aware ngayon. Sa Barangay at SK nga po ay 25 million ang Sangguniang Kabataan ang magpa-participate. Ibig sabihin, sa darating na 2028, i-expect niyo na mas mataas ang bilang ng kabataan na magpa-participate, mas maraming botante tayong boboto sa 2028 National and Local Elections. So therefore, we need heavy-duty machines. We need machines na will cater to the best interest of the Filipino people.โ
Hinikayat din ni Chairman Garcia ang mga technical experts, stakeholders, at election partners na aktibong makibahagi sa paghubog ng susunod na Automated Election System ng bansa.
โAnd that is why we are encouraging each and everyone, especially the technical people, to please help COMELEC in coming up with the machine and an enhanced version of it that will really cater to our best interest, not only to satisfy the law, but to satisfy the issue of transparency and accountability.โ
Sa pamamagitan ng maagang konsultasyon at pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba't ibang sektor, muling pinagtitibay ng COMELEC ang kanyang pangako na magsagawa ng ligtas, kapani-paniwala, transparent, at makabagong halalan para sa sambayanang Pilipino.
