CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has assured the public that it is fully prepared for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections in Central Luzon.
During the second episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas of the Philippine Information Agency for 2025, Comelec Assistant Regional Director Elmo Duque emphasized that all necessary measures are in place to ensure smooth and secure elections across the region.
“We are telling the whole public that Comelec Region 3 is ready for the upcoming elections,” he stated, highlighting ongoing training programs for election personnel, technical support staff, and teachers who will serve in polling precincts.
Comelec has been conducting extensive training for Department of Education Election Supervising Officer technical support staff, who will assist school principals and other school personnel in polling centers.
The Commission on Higher Education has also trained support staff to handle issues that may arise with Automated Counting Machines (ACMs).
Meanwhile, training for the Electoral Boards is ongoing and will continue for a month.
Security preparations have also been completed, with all 138 Offices of the Election Officers, Provincial Election Supervisors, and the Regional Election Director successfully passing the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency’s data evaluation for Security and Safety Standards.
“The canvassing rooms and centers in all municipalities, cities, and provinces in the region are ready, safe, and secure,” Duque assured, adding that communication signals have been checked and are functioning properly.
In Bulacan, 90 percent of transmission devices have already been installed, further strengthening the region’s election readiness.
Some election materials and equipment have been delivered and stored in warehouses in Bataan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.
These include ballot boxes and non-accountable forms such as ballot secrecy folders, pens, while batteries are still expected to arrive as contingency measures.
“These batteries have the capacity to last more than 14 hours, ensuring that elections will continue even in the event of power interruptions,” Duque said.
Final testing and sealing of ACMs will take place from May 2 to 7, 2025, with deployment scheduled for April.
By the third week of April, official ballots will also arrive in the region, allowing ample time for distribution to the provinces.
To address potential technical issues, each province will have a designated repair hub for ACM maintenance and troubleshooting.
Provincial Election Supervisors will set up these repair centers within their offices or in adjacent rooms.
With these preparations in place, Comelec Central Luzon reassures the public that the 2025 midterm elections will be conducted smoothly, securely, and without disruption. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)