The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has switched on a new digital tool that promises to make campaign money trails in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) just a click away from public scrutiny.
Unveiled on July 3, the electronic Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (e-SOCE) platform lets candidates and parties upload their spending reports online instead of hand-carrying paper folders to Comelec’s regional office.
The ₱91.4-million project is bank-rolled by a ¥234-million grant from the Japanese government and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of efforts “to raise voters’ awareness and promote the digitalization of the electoral process in Bangsamoro.”
“These forms of assistance are expected to aid in the accurate dissemination of information, and effective communication and transparency in the upcoming and future elections in the Bangsamoro region,” the Japanese Embassy said in a statement.
Under Philippine election law, every candidate—winner or loser—must file a full Statement of Contributions and Expenditures within 30 days after election day. Failure to do so can mean hefty fines or even disqualification from holding office. The e-SOCE portal automates that filing, making it easier for Comelec to audit and for citizens to check where campaign cash came from and how it was spent.
The platform would help simplify post-election processes and promote accountability among candidates.
The digital push comes ahead of BARMM’s first-ever parliamentary election now set for October 13, 2025, which has been postponed twice to give the new autonomous region more time to pass its own electoral code and complete its transition from the old ARMM setup. Seventy-three of 80 seats will be filled, marking the region’s shift to a fully elected parliament.
And Japan’s support goes beyond software. In March, Tokyo also turned over satellite communication units and servers to shore up Comelec’s connectivity in remote towns and islands, ensuring real-time results transmission and faster troubleshooting on election day.
Ambassador Kazuya Endo hailed the almost year-old partnership as proof of the strong cooperation of Japan and the Philippines. He said he sincerely hopes that the two countries’ combined efforts will positively impact the region to usher in the peaceful and progressive future the Bangsamoro people truly deserve.
With the e-SOCE portal live and new hardware in place, election officials say BARMM is a step closer to holding a vote where the real winners are transparency and public trust.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Edwin Carrie also attended the launch.
