Final sealing, testing of election machines today

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

THE 388 Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) and 388 Voter Registration Verification Machines (VRVM) for Iloilo City will undergo final testing and sealing today, May 10, 2019, according to City Commission on Elections (Comelec) Officer Atty. Mavil Majarucon Sia.

In an interview on Thursday, Sia underscored the importance of the activity, especially in ensuring that the machines intended for use on Election Day are functioning.

“At around 9 a.m. ma-start ang final testing and sealing of our VCM and VRVM machines which for me is a very important activity kay we need to test ang machines nga wala siya problema prior nga gamiton on election day,” Sia said.

The VRVM machines are used to verify if the voter is really a registered voter of the clustered precinct, Sia explained.

“Once na ma-verify na, the machine will print a verification receipt which will be presented by the voter to the chairman of election board. Without the verification receipt, the chairman cannot issue the official ballot,” she said.

After voting, the ballots will be fed to the VCM, according to Sia.

Comelec said one of the things that they will closely monitor on May 13 are the VCM machines.

“One of our priorities is the VCM machine kay machine siya mung, it’s like any other machine nga computer, nga once na overuse there is a possibility maoverheat,” Sia said.

 But Sia assured that the Comelec has enough contingency for both the VRVM and VCM machines.

“We have contingency for that. We have also hired technical support staff to look into that matter,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Sia encouraged poll bets to attend the final testing and sealing of the machines today at 9 a.m.

“We encourage them to witness the final testing and sealing para tanan nila nga doubts and questions ma-answer tomorrow,” she said.

 A total of 15 local positions in Iloilo CIty are up for grabs on the May 13 elections.

The seats are for the member of the House of Representatives (1), mayor (1), vice-mayor (1) and 12 members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

Four bets are vying for the lone Iloilo City district seat, seven for mayoralty seat, four for vice-mayoralty and 44 bets are eyeing for the 12 seats of the SP, according to Comelec-Iloilo City.