The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Dumaguete City said the final testing and sealing (FTS) of automated counting machines (ACMs) to be used in Negros Oriental for the May 12 elections went smoothly on Tuesday, May 6.

Comelec-Negros Island Region (NIR) director Lionel Marco Castillano said that except for minor issues, no significant problems were reported across the province during the simultaneous activities.

“We are thankful that very minimal issues were reported during the final testing and sealing which were immediately addressed with the availability of contingency units,” Castillano said.

In capital Dumaguete, two ACMs experienced the same problem in the printing of the taped receipt intended for the voter.

City election officer Ian Macaraya said the two units were immediately replaced with contingency ACMs, which performed without any issues and would officially be used for the clustered precincts affected in Barangays Looc and Buñao here.

Macaraya said the two defective units will be stored at the official hub in the city for repair.

In Mabinay town, one USB was reported defective but the Comelec provincial office immediately deployed a technical team to address the issue.

Castillano said that after the FTS, the ACMs would be returned to the Comelec offices in the towns and cities and would be deployed on election day or a day earlier in remote areas.

A total of 1,289 ACMs will be used during the polls on Monday, May 12, equivalent to the number of clustered voting precincts in the province. (PNA)