Comelec sets April 1 deadline for poll automation budget

MANILA, Philippines - There would be no automated elections next year if the Congress would not approve the release of P11.3-billion supplemental budget on or before April 1, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday. Speaking at the Balitaan sa Tinapayan forum held in Sampaloc, Manila, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body would have no choice but to use the manual process of voting if legislators do not address the release of budget for automation in time. Jimenez defended the Comelec in imposing the April 1 deadline since the poll body needs time to carry out the preparations in time for the elections. “We have to start the preparation by April 1 because of the many undertakings we have to accomplish, like the training of the personnel and the bidding of the machines,” he said. Jimenez said the Comelec has to start conducting training by April 1 on teachers who are tasked to operate the machines. “Under our law, the Board of Election Inspector (BEI) is required to train at least one information technology (IT)-capable person to operate the machines. But then we will have to train two persons because if there is only one person and in case he goes sick during the election period, then who will take on his job?” he said. He noted that the training is an arduous process since those who would be trained would have to undergo preparations and certification from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). “That training is no joke. Imagine there are 80,000 precincts nationwide and we have to train a total of 160,000 personnel. That is why we have to start as early as possible,” he said. Some congressmen have reportedly expressed apprehension in approving the automation budget as they are pushing for a “hybrid” of manual and automated systems in next year’s polls. Comelec and other sectors have strongly opposed the proposal, stressing that it would go against Republic Act 9369 or the Poll Automation Law. Jimenez said the Comelec is still waiting for the “merits and demerits” of the advisory council regarding the proposed used of an Open Election System (OES) before making recommendation. “We cannot make anything without the instruction of the advisory council,” he said. - GMANews.TV