To assure that Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) for the May 2025 midterm elections are fully functional, these have undergone final testing and sealing on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

In Iloilo City, 10 voters for each clustered precinct participated in the testing.

No glitches were encountered.

“Layunin nito na i-test ang machines kung tama, gumagana o niri-reject ang balota. Tinatanggap o nagma-malfunction,” said Jonathan Sayno, COMELEC-Iloilo City election assistant.

Baluarte Elementary School, the largest voting center in Iloilo City, said it is prepared for the midterm polls on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Baluarte Elementary School has 26 clustered precincts for voters from nines barangays in the District of Molo.

Express lanes for persons with disability (PWD), senior citizens, and other persons on the list of priority voters are set.

“Kung hindi sila mapasok sa kanilang timeslot, we will try our very best dahil may EB [electoral board] support staff na itong mga botante, senior citizen, and PWD,” Dr. Eric Valenzuela, principal of Baluarte Elementary School, said.

Oton Central Elementary School serves as voting center for three barangays in the Municipality of Oton, Province of Iloilo.

During the final testing and sealing, an ACM took time to read a few mock ballots.

“Ang ating balota ay ingatan na hindi madumihan, hindi malagyan ng ink. Kailangan kung ano ang shi-nade [shade] natin, yun lang upang mabasa ng machine,” said Annabelle Madero, Electoral Board chairman.

According to COMELEC Iloilo, the glitches are considered normal.

“May mga tawag dito sa ating tanggapan, mga minor concerns. But immediately ang ating mga election officer sa mga bayan, alam na nila ang actions to take,” Atty. Reinier Layson, provincial election supervisor of COMELEC Iloilo, said.

As for the final testing done at Pavia National High School, no problems were encountered.

However, a few voters admitted they will seek assistance as they do not understand how the ACMs work.

“Magpapaturo na lang ako sa nakaka-alam dahil first time kong magboto,” Renante, a voter, said.

Limuel, another voter, said he has not even seen an ACM yet.

“Hindi pa kasi hindi ko pa nga nakita yan (ACM),” Limuel said.

Meanwhile, at Concepcion Elementary School in Talisay City, Province of Negros Occidental, the final testing and sealing went on smoothly and in order.

However, in other areas in the province, four ACMs were reported to have not worked properly.

“Merong mga minor problems na-encounter like yung may nasira na ACM. Automatically naman po yun na-report sa National Support System. Palitan yung mga ACM na hindi nagwo-work,” according to Atty. Jossil Macute, assistant regional director of COMELEC Negros Island Region (NIR).