In the ongoing evaluation of the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) project, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) has reported a glitch-free experience during the systems demonstration and end-to-end testing conducted by Miru Systems Co. Ltd., the sole bidder for the ₱18.8 billion project.
The South Korean firm showcased the entire voting process on Tuesday, covering activities such as ballot shading, vote casting, transmission, and canvassing. SBAC Vice Chairperson Rex Laudiangco confirmed on Wednesday that no issues had been identified so far, emphasizing that the technical requirements checklist had been met by Miru’s systems.
One notable feature in Miru’s automated counting machine (ACM) is the LCD screen, displaying the ballot face during the voting process. Although the sample ballots maintained a format similar to previous elections, they were visibly thinner. Comelec assured that the ACMs could still accurately read these ballots.
The technical working group (TWG) demonstrated that the ACMs have mechanisms in place to reject ballots from other precincts and duplicate ballots. Laudiangco explained, “It reads, but there’s a prompt that says duplicate ballot. So if you repeat the ballot, it will be read but not counted.”
Officials highlighted the accuracy of the transmitted election results, indicating a successful demonstration of Miru’s technology.
The SBAC continued testing on Wednesday, subjecting Miru’s machines to a stress test where 1,000 ballots were smoothly processed within seven hours. The evaluation also involved checking the machine’s battery, serving as a backup power source, to ensure it could last for at least 14 hours.
The post-qualification evaluation will extend into next week, with a focus on testing the stackability of Miru’s machines—a requirement outlined in Comelec’s terms of reference. Comelec estimates that the entire post-evaluation process may take up to one month to complete.
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AMA ACLC San Pablo
