Senate to tackle poll automation budget Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines — With the Senate’s expected approval this week of the proposed P11.302-billion supplemental budget for the automation of the 2010 elections, the Commission on Election’s on Tuesday said it can now start with the bidding process of election technologies. Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said bidding could be completed by the third week of March and training of election workers and personnel will start in December. On Monday night, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 5715, which provides for “an Automated Election System including the acquisition of services, supplies and machines on a lease with option to purchase agreement/contract." The Senate on Tuesday night was still awaiting the official copy of the bill from the House of Representatives before it could begin its on deliberation on the measure. Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said he expects to present to the plenary the committee report Wednesday. “I intend to sponsor it tomorrow and hopefully our colleagues will pass it, otherwise the special session may be called," Angara told reporters. He expressed optimism that the chamber will be able to pass the bill Wednesday. “(Ninety) 90 percent siguro maipapasa ‘yan, naipasa na ng House on 3rd reading na walang reservation, walang condition (I believe that there is a 90 percent chance of approval as the House already passed its version on 3rd reading without reservation, without condition)," Angara said. He added: “We are consistent we will pass it as pure and simple supplemental budget." Comelec Chairman Melo also expressed confidence that the Senate will pass the supplemental budget before going on a month-long recess. “The Senate is all for automation. Even when the Lower House was talking about the ‘hybrid’ (system), the Senators were saying that they were not in favor of that," he said in an article on the Comelec blog site (www.bagongbotante.ph). When asked what could have possibly changed the minds of the Congressmen, Melo said: “They probably realized that we really have to automate. We really have to step into the 21st century." - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV