Nearly 2,000 backup vote-counting machines (VCMs) were prepared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the upcoming May 2022 elections.
Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said the backup VCMs were strategically placed all over the country.
“We have almost 2,000 backup VCMs scattered across the country. These are strategically placed throughout the country in several deployment hubs,” he said during an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday, May 6.
The VCMs, according to him, have external batteries in case there is an electricity interruption.
‘Yung external batteries ay kasama ng ating VCMs (The external batteries go along with VCMs) . We allocated them sa VCM to make sure na in case magkaroon ng problema sa kuryente, mayroong uninterruptable power ‘yung ating VCMs (that there would be ane electricity problem, our VCMs will have uninterruptible power source), which means the VCM will continue operating dahil nga mayroon silang baterya (because they have batteries),” the poll spokesperson said.
Although the Comelec is confident with the assurance of the Department of Energy (DOE) that there will be no power interruption, the poll body took extra measures by having generator sets on standby in some areas.
“n some places we are bolstering the power, electricity in some areas by facilitating generator sets na magagamit ng mga lugar na iyon para may kuryente rin sila (that these areas can use so that they have electricity),” he said.
VCMs undergo tests
Jimenez noted that VCMs have undergone series of tests including a stress testing to ensure that they can function in a very stressful condition as many voters are expected to cast their vote come Election Day, May 9.
“Before we release these VCMs mayroon tayong tests (we have performed tests). Kasama po riyan ang tinatawag nating (That includes what we call) stress testing, meaning to say we operate them under very stressful condition,” the poll spokesperson said.
“Kasama po diyan ‘yung mainit so expected na nga natin (It includes the hot temperature that we expected), it’s this time of the year so we also prepared in that direction,” he added.