The Commission on Elections (Comelec) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in a bid to fight cybercrime and safeguard the integrity of the upcoming midterm elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia underscored during the MOA signing that the three agencies have always been partners, citing the Republic Act No. 9369 or the Automated Election System.

Garcia said the more than 300,000 teachers who will serve for the midterm elections were trained and were certified under the DOST.

"Ganun din po ang gagawin namin nitong halalan. Ang DOST ay magce-certify ng 7,000 na mga miyembro ng Philippine National Police (PNP) na ide-deploy namin sa iba't ibang lugar (We will also do that this elections. (The DOST will also certify 7,000 PNP personnel who will be deployed in several areas)," he continued.

"Ang DICT din po ang partner namin sa paglaban sa cybercrime (Meanwhile, the DICT is our partner in fighting cybercrime)," he added, noting that the agency is also responsible for the complete transparency of the election results.

Garcia said the DOST and DICT are also Comelec's partners in the establishment of the 110 technical hubs nationwide for all poll-related repairs and configurations.

Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum stressed the agency's role in validating that every electoral board member is equipped with the necessary technological skills to operate automated counting machines (ACMs).

"As compared to the previous years, the voting process will entail the use of ACMs with upgraded features that the regular voting counting machine," Solidum pointed out.

"As we anticipate this significant enhancement in the voting process, with the introduction of the new counting machines, we are gearing up for more comprehensive programs," he added.

For his part, DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said the agency is one with the Comelec in ensuring the transparency and credibility of the midterm elections.

"This is a declaration of our shared result to deliver an election process that is more secure, efficient, and resilient than ever before," Uy said.

Through the establishment of technical hubs, the agencies are "locking in the security" of the polls, through safeguarding every vote and ensuring no threats.