BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental received 3,356 vote counting machines from the Commission on Elections on April 14, with barely three weeks before the May 9 elections.
Of the newly-arrived VCMs, 450 have been earmarked for Bacolod City, according to Acting Election Officer Atty. Revo Sorbito.
The 2,906 other VCMs which arrived on Maundy Thursday at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City were received by Provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Roberto Salazar.
The shipment also includes back up VCMs, which will replace any voting machines that may malfunction. Members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army and Coast Guard personnel are securing the warehouse where VCMs being stored.
Comelec records show that Negros Occidental has a total 1,946,639 registered voters, including 327,403 from highly-urbanized Bacolod City
In a bid to ensure transparency of the May 9 polls, the Comelec set the final testing and sealing of VCMs from May 2 to 7 in precincts nationwide.
During that period, the VCMs will be tested to ensure they are ready for use come election day, according to Comelec Commissioner George Garcia.*
