Comelec sets sights for 2019 polls

March 29, 2017

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is preparing for the 2019 midterm polls, its chairman said Wednesday.

"We are continuously working to improve the credibility of elections and enhance the voter experience," said Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista.

Bautista said they will finish the diagnostics of the old Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines this month to find out if these can still be used.

"We have more time to arrange for bidding and repair of the old PCOS machines this time around, should the same prove to be more cost-efficient for the 2019 elections," said Bautista.

Comelec ordered diagnostics for the 81,896 units of PCOS machines, which were bought from Smartmatic International before the 2013 polls for P1.8 billion.

Bautista said the Comelec is “open to idea of having home-grown technologies.”

"But this will not happen overnight,” he said. DMS