By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Some 93,000 “unserviceable” units of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) stored in Comelec warehouses may soon find new homes in public school classrooms nationwide.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia announced on Wednesday (07 Aug 2024) that the poll body is considering donating these old VCM units to the Department of Education (DepEd) for alternative uses.
“We’re offering them for free. We’ll donate them to DepEd. We’re calling on Secretary Sonny Angara to consider this, as there may be a way to make some of these units operational again,” Garcia revealed in an interview on dzBB Super Radyo.
He further explained that these VCM units could be used by schools, for instance, to check students’ exam papers to expedite the process.
Despite concerns from Sagip party-list Rep. Dante Marcoleta, Comelec has engaged South Korean firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd. to procure a new automated election system for the 2025 national and local elections.
(ia/mnm)
