Satellite dish for 2004 elections gathers dust in Comelec Talisay

LIKE in most other local Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices, equipment bought for the 2004 elections, such as the very small aperture terminals (Vsat) dish, are gathering dust in Talisay City Hall’s stockroom.

Talisay City Election Assistant Efren Arnejo Jr. said the only time they tinkered with the dish was when they assembled it with its modem and cable wire.

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“Since then, it has been kept in the archive, it has not been put to good use,” Arnejo said.

He shared the views that the acquisition of the Vsat dish has wasted government funds because these are not compatible with the precinct count optical (PCOS) acquired for the May 10 elections.

Meanwhile, the Talisay City Comelec has started training public school teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors (BEIs) in Cebu Province’s first
congressional district.

At least 10 PCOS machines are being used for the BEIs’ actual training, held in a private resort in Talisay.

“We’re using these for training purposes in the meantime, but more are coming before election day,” Arnejo said.

The Comelec is set to provide Talisay City 115 PCOS machines for the May elections.

These machines are scheduled to arrive not later than April 30 and will be distributed according to the voting population of each barangay, Arnejo said. (GC)