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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Poll body requests P5M from Mandaue for counting machines
By Rose O. Verzosa
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is requesting the Mandaue City Government to appropriate P5 million to cover the cost of 10 additional automated counting machines (ACMs) for the city.
The ACMs will guarantee a speedy and accurate counting and tallying of votes at the rate of 40-50 ballots per minute, completing the whole electoral process within four to five hours only.
Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, in his letter dated April 23 to Mayor Thadeo Ouano, said they have also completed the bidding process for the electronic transmission of the machine-counted precinct results to the municipality, city, provincial and national consolidation centers without human intervention.
But Abalos explained that there is a need to install 10 additional ACMs in Mandaue City.
Comelec can only afford to provide a limited number of ACMs to fully automate the electoral process in the country, so he is asking the City Government to appropriate P5 million for the additional machines.
“This will surely immediately address the political tension and division of our people that usually come with the elections,” Abalos said.
Ouano referred Comelec’s request to the City Council, City Budget Officer Lamberto Marababol and City Attorney Malcolm Seno for appropriate action.
Comelec also sent a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) covering the acquisition of the additional ACMs, in case the latter approves their request.
Under the proposed MOA, Mandaue City will merely provide funds for its acquisition, but it will be Comelec that will maintain exclusive control and custody over the machines.
Comelec will also assume responsibility over the maintenance, storage and transport of the machines.
(June 4, 2003 issue)
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