SOURCE CODE REVIEW. Officials of the Commission on Elections and other stakeholders pose for a photo during their visit to the Circuit Corporate Center One in Makati City on Friday (Oct. 11, 2024). The review of the automated election system that would be used in next year's midterm polls will start on Oct. 14. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will begin on Oct. 14 its source code review of the automated election system (AES) that would be used in next year's midterm polls.
Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia visited on Friday the Circuit Corporate Center One in Makati City, the venue of the two-month review.
Garcia said the review will identify the systems weaknesses and strengths.
“Ito po ang pinakahaligi ng ating automated election system. ‘Yung machines po ‘yan, scanner yan. Pero ito ang mapapagalaw at magpapagana ng mga makina na gagamitin natin kaya ganun ka-importante ang gagawın nating source code (review), kaya nga source code, source, pinangagalingan nung lahat ng kaalaman ng makina, kung baga sa tao ‘yan ang utak ng makina (This is the main pillar of our automated election system. Our machines would serve as scanners. But this makes the machines that we use function. This is the importance of the source code review. That's why it is the source code, this is the source of the machines' function. Just like in humans, this serves as the machines' brain),” he said in an interview.
The holding of source code review is provided under Republic Act No. 9369, or the poll automation law.
After the review, the source code will be sent to an international certification entity, including the hardware and software.
“Upang alamin kung ang lahat ay tumutugma base sa ating batas (This is for us to determine if these are synchronized with each other, pursuant to our law)," he added.
The event is open to all, as long as they are endorsed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Comelec Advisory Council and other agencies.
Political parties, representatives of candidates, election watchdog groups and other election stakeholders are invited to participate.
The Comelec’s service provider for the forthcoming polls is South Korea-based Miru Systems Joint Venture.
Meanwhile, the company has submitted to the Comelec the replacement Net Financial Contracting Capacity, a week after St. Timothy’s Construction Company withdrew after information leaked that some of its officials have plans to run in next year’s elections.
In a statement, Miru Systems and its remaining partners, Integrated Computer Systems and Centerpoint Solutions, submitted the NFCC, which was one of the documentary requirements for the project, on Friday.
"This assures the Comelec that our remaining partners are capable of complying and completing the terms of agreement for the 2025 National and Local Elections," Miru said.
Miru added that it has already proven its ability to accomplish all project requirements of the Commission, including the delivery of the automated counting machines and election peripherals ahead of schedule, and the start of the printing test calibration of the brand-new ballot printers. (PNA)
