Comelec Starts ‘Trusted Build’ for BARMM Polls
Comelec Begins Trusted Build for BARMM Parliamentary Elections
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MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has commenced the crucial “trusted build” process for the automated election system (AES) that will be utilized in the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE) scheduled for October. This vital step ensures the integrity and accuracy of the voting system for this significant regional election.
Understanding the Trusted Build Process
The “trusted build” is a meticulous procedure where the complete programme governing the AES is assembled using pre-vetted and approved components. It’s essentially the final assembly of the election software, ensuring all parts work together seamlessly and securely.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia elaborated on the necessity of this process in a recent interview. He explained that modifications to the source code - the human-readable instructions that dictate how computer equipment functions – necessitate a trusted build.
“Trusted build is being done, especially with changes to the source code,” Garcia stated. “When some changes are introduced that are a requirement of the BARMM law, such as pictures, none of the above, logo.You can’t just change it without changing the source code. Since you changed the source code, you need to have a trusted build again to generate a new version of the program.”
This rigorous process is mandated by law whenever alterations are made to the source code. “If that is not changed, we will violate the Bangsamoro election code,” Garcia emphasized, highlighting the legal imperative behind the trusted build.
International Expertise in Play
The trusted build for the BPE is being expertly handled by Pro V&V, an international certification entity based in Colorado, USA. This collaboration ensures an independent and globally recognized standard for the process, particularly in generating new ballot face templates and serialization.
Technology for the BARMM Elections
For the upcoming BPE, the Comelec will be deploying automated counting machines that were previously used in the May 12, 2025 midterm elections. The technology powering thes machines is supplied by MIRU Systems, a South Korean-based service provider. They are working in partnership with the Integrated Computer Systems and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. (ICS-CPSTI) Joint Venture. This ensures that the BARMM Parliamentary Elections will benefit from reliable and tested automated election technology.