The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has begun preparations for the 2028 national and local elections as early as August last year, 27 months before voters choose a new president and vice president.
Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. announced that he was appointed to head the poll body’s steering committee for the 2028 elections in August 2025. Executive Director Teopisto Elnas Jr. was also designated to lead the Project Management Office.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Maceda said that despite upcoming electoral exercises — including the Bangsamoro parliamentary polls, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, and special proceedings — the commission remains focused on delivering credible elections in 2028.
He noted that under Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, preparations began two years ahead of schedule.
Starting March, COMELEC will craft the terms of reference for procurement contracts. The commission plans to begin procuring the transmission and overseas voting and counting systems this year, as these are already funded in the current budget.
Automated counting machines (ACMs), described by Maceda as the “heart of the automated election system,” are scheduled for procurement next year under the 2027 budget.
“Next year after we have been exposed or we have been educated by the available options present, we’re going to ensure that we will procure another effective provider for [the] 2028 elections. Worry about everything else but don’t worry, your vote is going to be counted,” Maceda said.
For the 2025 midterm elections, South Korea-based Miru Systems supplied over 110,000 ACMs under a ₱17.9 billion lease contract with COMELEC.
The joint venture of Ardent Networks and iOne Resources handled the Secure Electronic Transmission Services.