THE Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) have recently formed a partnership for the upcoming national and local elections next year.
According to CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera III, the first agreement in the signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) focuses on ensuring that the 2025 elections are orderly, trustworthy, and fully transparent.
De Vera emphasized the importance of developing the expertise of students and faculty in CHED universities that offer information and technology education programs to assist in the conduct of elections across various regions of the Philippines.
“Let’s remember that our elections are now technology-based. However, we often encounter glitches in the system and issues with the equipment used during voting. Additionally, delays can occur due to a lack of manpower while waiting for replacement machines, leading to various technical problems at the ground level,” according to Prospero De Vera III, Chairperson, CHED.
Through its regional offices, CHED will identify schools in various regions that have personnel skilled in information technology.
These individuals will then undergo training by COMELEC on the electoral system and the use of technology during elections, assisting in its operation.
The role of personnel and students from higher education will be to ensure the proper use of technology in elections.
Currently, from voting to the transmission of results, the aggregation of data, and the presentation to the public, everything is done electronically.
“We need technology experts and skilled personnel across the country to help COMELEC run the elections efficiently. This is where universities with faculty knowledgeable in IT and students proficient in technology play a crucial role,” De Vera added.
Regarding the manpower issue, De Vera stated that COMELEC will assess the manpower available on the ground and determine the assistance needed.
“Once they identify the needs, the role of CHED and the universities’ regional offices will be to pinpoint schools that have the necessary expertise and manpower. They will collaborate with COMELEC in the region to discuss the required personnel,” he added.
CHED also stated that significant changes can be made even at the ground level with the assistance of personnel operating the election machines.
“Ensuring the integrity of the transmission of results is also crucial. If the machines at the local level malfunction, they won’t be able to transmit the results, leading to significant problems. Therefore, technology solutions are essential, and we must utilize those knowledgeable in technology to assist,” he said.
The partnership between CHED and COMELEC will continue until the counting of votes is completed and the winners are declared.
