The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is coordinating with the security and energy sectors to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE) on Monday.

“We have coordinated with the security and energy sectors to ensure there will be no power outages on Election Day, although our machines can operate for three days even without electricity,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in a radio interview Friday.

He was referring to the automated counting machines (ACMs) to be used for the BPE. Each machine has standby batteries that could last several days.

Garcia also called on the public, especially those who are part of the upcoming polls, to witness the final testing and sealing of ACMs on Saturday.

All the ACMs in the 5,212 voting centers will be tested.

“Our fellow citizens, the media, candidates, political parties, and sectoral organizations should witness this,” he said.

“That is how we will know if the machines are counting correctly, if the ballots are being accepted, and if the machines can effectively transmit results on Election Day.”

On Monday, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) voters will elect one parliamentary district representative, one parliamentary political party, and six parliamentary sectoral organizations (two for settler communities, one for women, one for youth, one for ulama, and one for traditional leader).

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesperson Jon Rex Laudiangco reported that teachers serving as Election Boards, as well as police personnel, are ready for Monday’s polls.

“Teachers are ready and fully trained. Should any teachers back out, there are ready PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel to take their place – trained by Comelec, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-certified, and prepared to conduct the elections at the polling precincts,” he said in a separate interview.

As for security, Laudiangco reported checkpoints are in place to ensure peace and order in the region.

“Regarding the security aspect, based on the Comelec plan and the agreement between the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the number of checkpoints has reached nearly 36,000,” he said.

“As of now, only one election-related concern or incident of violence has been recorded.” (PNA)