Completion of Delivery for All Election Control Modules Reported by Comelec

The Great Leap Forward: Across Cebu's LGUs

Hey there! Let's talk about the latest buzz in town - the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) have landed in Cebu's local government units (LGUs)! As of May 6, 2025, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu Provincial Office announced a successful delivery, sans any transportation woes, according to Cebu Provincial Election Officer Michael Sarno.

Breaking it down, these sleek machines have been distributed to different localities and polling centers from the Comelec Central Visayas' hub in Mandaue City. The delivery of election paraphernalia, including the all-important official ballots, is slated for the coming days before the May 12 polls.

Now, don't get too excited just yet! Sarno stated that a thorough testing and sealing process will ensue on May 6 and 7 to guarantee the ACMs' readiness, and to familiarize the electoral board members with the machines comes Election Day. Each machine will undergo testing using at least 10 test ballots, to ensure everything's functioning as it should be. And these tests won't affect the official election results, says Sarno, whew!

Now, in Mandaue City – one of 15 areas in Central Visayas that falls under Comelec's yellow category for rising political tension – 271 ACMs graced the city's 29 polling centers. Along with the ACMs, essential voting material was doled out. To prepare for potential technical issues during election day, Comelec has allocated 38 contingency machines for Mandaue. These backup ACMs will be kept at the Mandaue City Sports Complex and will be deployed pronto in case of technical glitches or machine malfunctions, ensuring the voting process runs smooth as silk.

So, how many backup ACMs are allocated to each LGU? Well, that remains unspecified in this article. Each LGU's backup allocation hinges on the number of polling centers within the LGU. However, if an ACM encounters trouble, the electoral board or teachers must contact Comelec for troubleshooting assistance before replacement. If the situation isn't resolved, the malfunctioning ACM will be whisked away to the Comelec's repair hubs in Danao City, Carcar City, and Camotes Islands for immediate repair.

Speaking of repairs, election paraphernalia and official ballots will be dispatched to remote and far-flung barangays as early as May 11, taking into account the longer travel time. For urban precincts, official ballots and election paraphernalia will be delivered just hours before polling centers open on May 12, to keep security risks minimal.

Here's an interesting tidbit, Cebu boasts approximately 3.4 million registered voters across 4,120 clustered precincts. To secure the ACMs stationed in each polling center, the Philippine National Police has already deployed personnel who will stay until election day and after the ACMs are retrieved as voting concludes.

Lastly, Sarno reminded voters to bring any valid government-issued ID to the polls on Election Day. He also debunked the misinformation swirling around online that only voters with National ID can enter polling places to vote. Voters without identification can still be verified by the electoral board through the official voter's list at each polling place, by checking the voter's picture found in their system.

Boom! There you have it, a fresh take on the distribution of ACMs in Cebu, complete with some tasty insights sprinkled in!

The Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), essential for elections, have been delivered to Cebu's local government units (LGUs) in preparation for the May 12 polls.
Despite the ACMs being distributed, a testing and sealing process will take place on May 6 and 7 to ensure the machines' readiness, and to familiarize the electoral board members with their functioning.
Mandaue City, one of the areas with rising political tension, has received 271 ACMs, accompanied by allocation of 38 contingency machines for potential technical issues.
The number of backup ACMs allocated to each LGU remains unspecified but depends on the number of polling centers within the LGU.
The Philippine National Police has already deployed personnel to ensure the security of ACMs stationed in each polling center during and after the elections, with a total of approximately 3.4 million registered voters across 4,120 clustered precincts in Cebu.