Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, Comelec Chairman George Garcia, Namria Undersecretary Peter Tiangco and Namria Mapping and Geodesy Branch Director Ruel Belen at the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement for the Geographic Information Systems Project on Wednesday, July 31. (Photo from the Office of the Chairman/Comelec)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria) underscored the importance of using technology to ensure seamless and fair elections in a ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement on Wednesday.
Comelec and Namria teamed up to implement the Geographic Information System (GIS), a computer-based application that analyzes and displays map information.
“By leveraging Namria’s expertise in mapping and geospatial intelligence, we aim to support Comelec in addressing challenges to geospatial data and updating election precinct maps,” said Namria Undersecretary Peter Tiangco.
Furthermore, Namria Mapping and Geodesy Branch Director Ruel Belen mentioned that the agency will provide base maps and training for Comelec technical personnel.
“Of course, lagi nating sinasabi na (we always say) in order to enhance democracy, we must use technology, and in order to enhance democracy and technology, we must always use the power of partnership,” said Comelec Chairman George Garcia.
Garcia noted that Namria will be helpful in electoral measures such as locating barangays and poll precincts.
READ: ‘Problematic’: Comelec sees 1,000 voters per precinct in 2025 elections
“Gusto naming makita ‘yong mismong barangay up to the precinct. Ano’ng nangyayari doon? Kung sakaling sa pagdidistribute ng kagamitan sa eleksyon, ‘yung pagsend ng electoral board members, ating military, at PNP (Philippine National Police). Malaking gamit sa amin ‘yung mga maps mula sa Namria,” said Garcia in an ambush interview on Wednesday.
(We want to see the actual barangays up to the precinct. What happens there? The maps from Namria will be a big help in distributing electoral materials and sending electoral board members, military, and PNP personnel.)
“Mayroon po tayong tinatawag na precinct mapping, inaalam saan ang lokasyon ng presinto. Sadya bang ‘yong mga presintong ‘yon ay malapit sa mga botante? Baka mamaya naglalagay tayo ng mga presinto na napakalayo ng nilalakad ng mga botante.
“Makakatulong ang Namria para siguraduhing wala tayong nadidisenfranchise na mga botante sapagkat malayo pala ang pinaglagyan ng mga polling precincts ng Comelec,” Garcia added.
(We have a precinct mapping that identifies the location of a precinct. Is this certain precinct near voters? We may be putting precincts too far from voters. Namria will help ensure that we will not have disenfranchised voters just because Comelec polling precincts are too far.)
According to Garcia, GIS will operate as early as January when 82 repair hubs will be established in all the provinces in the country. Repair hubs will assist in repairing broken voting machines.
Last April, Comelec reported that the initial batch of around 20,000 voting counting machines that will be used in the 2025 local and national elections is expected to arrive by August.
READ: Comelec expects 20,000 voting machines by August