Abalos: Comelec can still go high-tech for May polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) can still go partially high-tech despite abandoning hopes for poll automation following Congress’ failure to enact the election modernization law in time for the May 2007 polls. Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Sunday said the Comelec can still find some use to the very small aperture terminals (VSAT) equipment it rented during the 2004 polls. Abalos, however, indicated that the agency might bid out the software for the VSATs since some of its "security features" might need replacement. The poll chief said he remains hopeful that Congress could discuss the automation issue when it resumes session next month. "Partial automation, consisting of data capture of election returns, secure electronic transmission, consolidation and canvassing for the May 2007elections, may still be possible, subject to the immediate signing of the ( bill) into law, and the provision of adequate funds for the purpose," Abalos said. Under the VSAT system, Abalos said election results could be known within 24 hours even under manual voting and counting. He said electronic transmission would be possible only in Batanes and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. With a P3 billion budget in hand in 2004, the Comelec implemented a three-phase modernization program that covers electronic registration and validation, automated counting and canvassing, and transmission. Phase 1 or electronic registration and validation has been awarded to Sagem of France while Phase 2 or automated counting and canvassing was won by Mega Pacific eSolutions. Multi Media Systems Inc. got the project for electronic transmission with a total bid offer or more than P298 million. Under the VSAT arrangement, the Comelec will rent out the equipment of Dream Satellite for the electronic transmission system. Only phase 1 materialized as the Supreme Court ruled before the May 2004 elections to junk the Mega Pacific deal for irregularities in bidding. While the Comelec was able to pursue computerized registration, many registrants had complained that they have yet to receive their voter’s identification card. With the Mega Pacific deal scrapped, the poll body was prompted to also shelve electronic transmission. Meanwhile, more than 1,900 automated counting machines remain in Comelec storage where the government pays more than P3 million a year to keep them. Last week, Abalos announced that the Comelec’s advisory council composed of the Department of Science and Technology, University of the Philippines, Information Technology Foundation of the Philippines and the Philippine Computer Society, recommended the scrapping of automated voting and counting due to lack of time. The council said they would need nine months to prepare the production of the software and to purchase the equipment. -GMANews.TV