Smartmatic sets up satellite gear in Negros

Smartmatic-TIM, the contractor for the May 10 automated elections, has started setting up satellite equipment in Negros Occidental for the rapid transmission of results. A report on Visayan Daily Star said Smartmatic-TIM set up the first of six Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) at the provincial capitol in Bacolod, the capital city. Provincial coordinator John Cabalo said the provincial capitol's Social Hall will be used as the base for incoming election returns that will be transmitted by precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines. Cabalo also said a second VSAT will also be set up at the Bacolod office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). VSATs will also be placed in Sipalay, Cauayan, Hinobaan and Isabela towns where telecommunication services are weak, he added. The VSATs access satellites in geosynchronous orbit to relay data from small remote earth stations to other terminals. Cabalo said Smartmatic has conducted ocular inspections of sites throughout Negros Occidental where PCOS machines will bet set up. He said contingency plans have been set up for areas that have no electricity. There are 2,050 precincts in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City with one PCOS machine each, Comelec provincial Supervisor Jessie Suarez said. Suarez said Smartmatic will also provide extra PCOS machines as contingency for malfunctions. Also, the Comelec regional office said there are 254 polling precincts in Western Visayas that have no power supply, but the concern will not hamper the conduct of successful elections in the region. Iloilo provincial elections officer Elizabeth Doronila said 97 of these are in Iloilo; 70 in Negros Occidental; six in Guimaras and the rest are scattered in Aklan, Antique and Capiz.—JV, GMANews.TV