House wants to install more e-voting gadgets

The House of Representatives is seeking another round of funding for an additional set of e-voting interface gadgets that it wants to install at the session hall in Quezon City. Rep. Alfredo “Albee" Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental) has authored House Resolution 1783 that calls on the House of Representatives to review and evaluate the biometric electronic voting system in the chamber. Benitez said the 239 e-voting gadgets already installed at the session hall are short of 46 units since the chamber now has a total of 285 members. Benitez said additional funding is needed for the installation of 46 additional e-voting interface gadgets and other electronic and cabling requirements to enable its operation. “The e-voting system allows for the immediate availability of results, which shall be incorporated in the records of proceedings, and provides for more statistical information on voting results for analysis and information to the public," Benitez said. Benitez said the House Committee on Rules needs to convene an Ad Hoc Committee to amend the House Rules with regard to the additional 46 interface gadgets which will be install at the plenary hall. Benitez used to operate Internet gambling in the country, heading First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation, the “master licensor" of “Internet gaming" at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Free Port (CSEZFP) in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. The House started using the Biometric Electronic Voting System during the resumption of its session in January 28, 2008 at a cost of P15 million. The project was awarded to the InfoBahn Inc. after a bidding which was supervised by the Office of the Secretary General, the Office of the Director General of the Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD), and the House Committee on Information and Technology. Former House Speaker Prospero Nograles was responsible for the installation of the electronic voting system interface gadgets in the session hall during his term, according to Benitez. “The objective is to encourage lawmakers’ attendance and promote efficiency in plenary procedures especially during voting on important measures," he said. Benitez said many countries in Asia have already installed and implemented the e-voting system in their parliamentary session including the National assembly of Thailand and the Korean National Assembly. — Newsbytes.ph