The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) wants to ensure a secure, transparent, and reliable midterm election in May 2025 by seeking the expertise of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
On March 4, 2025, at COMELEC’s Palacio del Gobernador office in Intramuros, Manila, COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., and DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy signed a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to achieve what they called a technological, efficient, and credible electoral process this May.
In his speech, COMELEC Chair Garcia acknowledged the vital role of DOST in the conduct of the automated election. He explained that DOST is responsible for conducting various tests on Automated Counting Machines (ACM)—including stress tests, electrical tests, and others—to ensure that equipment is reliable and in good working condition.
“Ang DOST ang nagsagawa ng iba’t ibang pagsusuri sa ating mga makina—mula sa stress test, electrical test, at iba pa—upang matiyak na maayos at maaasahan ang ating mga gamit,” said Chair Garcia.
(Even our ballot boxes underwent their assessment, including a waterproofing test to ensure they would not leak. With the guidance of the DOST, we were able to select the best equipment for our elections)
Chair Garcia believes that the law requires an international certifying body for the machines. However, they observed that the findings of the international certifying body were the same as those of the DOST.
“Ibig sabihin, ang ating sariling institusyon ay may kakayahang magsagawa ng parehong antas ng sertipikasyon. Kaya’t naniniwala kaming maaari nating isulong ang pagbabago sa batas upang kilalanin ang DOST bilang pangunahing certifying body sa bansa, hindi lamang para sa ating automated election system, kundi maging sa iba pang teknolohiyang ginagamit sa rehiyon,” said Chair Garcia.
(This proves that our institution can conduct certification at the same level, which is why I believe the law can be amended to recognize DOST as the primary certifying body in the country, not just for the automated election system but also for other technologies used in the region)
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Solidum shared that under Republic Act 9369, the science department ensures Electoral Board Members are trained to operate ACM. This year’s election process will use ACMs with upgraded features, replacing the Vote Counting Machines (VCM) used in previous years.
“As we anticipate these significant enhancements in the voting process, particularly with the introduction of new Automated Counting Machines, we are gearing up for more comprehensive training programs, the enhancement of our certification materials, and closer coordination with COMELEC and our Regional Offices,” said DOST Secretary Solidum.
Sec. Solidum shared that DOST’s main task is certifying Electoral Board Members to ensure they can confidently operate ACMs. Through its EB Certification Program, the department ensures at least one member of each board has the necessary expertise. In previous elections, DOST mobilized its resources to certify board members nationwide.
Sec. Solidum shared that in 2016, 182,790 Electoral Board Members were certified with a 90.7% passing rate. In 2019, 171,144 members were certified, achieving a 94.1% passing rate. The 2022 elections saw 205,413 members certified with a 94.23% passing rate. For the 2025 elections, DOST has established a pool of over 600 certifiers across all 18 regions. These certifiers underwent a Training of Trainers (TOT) program from February 4 to 21, with additional support for local and overseas voting Special Board of Election Inspectors.
Sec. Solidum also said that DOST’s role in the 2025 midterm election extends beyond local and overseas EB certification. As a non-voting special member of the COMELEC Advisory Council, we provide technical advice and submit position papers to improve the electoral process. Additionally, we are preparing to deploy personnel to staff the COMELEC Technical Hubs in collaboration with DICT.
“DOST’s involvement in the 2025 NLE does not end with local and overseas EB certification. As a non-voting special member of the COMELEC Advisory Council (CAC), we also provide technical advisory services and submit position papers to further enhance the electoral process,” said Sec. Solidum.