LEADING integrated telecommunications company PLDT, Inc. and its data center arm VITRO are deploying digital infrastructure to support the first regular Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on September 14.
The initiative aims to safeguard election transparency and credibility during the historic vote, which marks a major milestone in the region’s democratic transition under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
In partnership with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), PLDT is providing mission-critical connectivity and data hosting services. VITRO data centers will directly receive and host encrypted election data transmitted from automated counting machines nationwide—extending a secure infrastructure partnership that began in 2016 and expanded through the 2025 midterm elections.
Additionally, PLDT is supplying connectivity for the PPCRV Command Center at AMA Computer College alongside prepaid SIMs to coordinate field monitoring.
“Reliable connectivity and secure digital infrastructure play a crucial role in enabling transparent and credible elections. PLDT is honored to support Comelec, PPCRV and other election stakeholders in helping strengthen public trust,” said PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo G. Jimenez Jr.
VITRO’s facility architecture features physical security built to endure Intensity 8 earthquakes, redundant backup power generators, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems designed to maintain 99.99% uptime during potential commercial outages.
“Through VITRO’s secure and mission-critical data center infrastructure, we are committed to protecting the integrity of election data entrusted to us,” added Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO of ePLDT and VITRO REIT Inc.
The election support aligns with PLDT’s broader digital inclusion initiatives, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Bayanihan SIM Program for isolated communities, AI literacy programs, and local digital upskilling.
These nationwide digital transformation efforts recently earned PLDT and Smart the DICT’s “Bayani sa Last Mile” award, supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
