The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Wednesday for the mapping of precincts in the 2025 midterm polls.
Under the MOA, NAMRIA data and the geographic information system (GIS) would be used for precinct mapping.
The GIS is a computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information, according to the US Geological Survey. The system uses data that is attached to a unique location.
“Inaalam saan lokasyon ng mga presinto…Baka naman maya-maya naglalagay tayo ng mga presinto na napakalayo nang nilalakad ng mga botante. Makakatulong ang NAMRIA para siguraduhin na wala tayong nadi-disenfranchise na mga botante,” Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said.
(We locate all precincts using technology. By doing this, we can guarantee that no voter will be disenfranchised due to a voting precinct’s faraway location.)
Garcia said the Comelec will launch a command center at its headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, for the GIS in January 2025 and will also set up repair hubs for the maintenance and repairs of the automated voting machines (AVMs) across the country.
“May itatayo…sa lahat ng probinsya sa Pilipinas na repair hubs…Kung sakaling magka-problem sa makina o sistema na ginagamit natin, kahit ‘yung baterya, may pagdadalhan…’Yan po kakailanganin na agad natin ang tulong ng NAMRIA at Philippine National Police kung kaya ‘yung operation center as early as January gusto natin ma-set up na,” he added.
(We will set up repair hubs in all provinces in the country so that there will be a place to bring malfunctioning AVMs, including batteries. We would need the help of NAMRIA and the PNP for that, so we want to set up the operation center as early as January.)
The latest data from the Comelec showed at least 4.8 million new voters for the 2025 national and local elections. The Philippines will hold the midterm elections on May 12, 2025. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
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