The government has partnered with telecommunications giant PLDT Inc. to build the digital infrastructure for the inaugural regular Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Collaborating with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), PLDT will deploy connectivity and technology support ahead of the vote. Under the agreement, PLDT’s VITRO data centers will host the critical servers receiving real-time election data from automated counting machines. The company is also providing SIM cards and network links to power the PPCRV Command Center at AMA.
“Reliable connectivity and secure digital infrastructure play a crucial role in enabling transparent and credible elections,” said PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo G. Jimenez Jr. “As the Bangsamoro Region prepares for this historic electoral exercise, PLDT is honored to support Comelec, PPCRV and other election stakeholders in helping strengthen public trust in the electoral process.”
Engineered for mission-critical operations, the VITRO facilities feature multi-layered physical security, earthquake resistance up to Intensity 8, back-up power generators, and a 99.99% uptime rating to keep data secure during continuous operations.
“Serving the Filipino people means safeguarding the sanctity of every vote,” said Victor S. Genuino, president and chief executive of ePLDT and VITRO REIT Inc. “Through VITRO’s secure and mission-critical data center infrastructure, we are committed to protecting the integrity of election data entrusted to us. We are honored to once again support the Commission on Elections and iONE in strengthening our democratic process, this time through the landmark BARMM Parliamentary Elections.”
The election marks a key milestone in the region’s democratic transition under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
PLDT added that its support aligns with its broader digital transformation initiatives, such as the Bayanihan SIM Program, which extends free mobile connectivity to geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities nationwide.