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Friday, June 09, 2006
Poll modernization program in peril: commissioner
AN ELECTION official said Thursday that the automation of the 2007 elections may not push through.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Resurreccion Borra, commissioner-in-charge for the automation program, said the approval by the House of Representatives of House Bill (HB) 3552, which seeks amendments in the Modernization Act of 1998, last Wednesday is not a guarantee that it would be implemented in next year's elections.
"The bill was only approved in the House while the Senate version has not been finalized, so we cannot really presume that it would be passed during the bicameral conference," Borra said.
He also said the Comelec needs 18 months to prepare for the modernization program and with what has been happening in Congress, the automation of the 2007 local and congressional elections remains uncertain.
Asked what could be the thorn in the bicameral conference discussions on the two bills, Borra said the only major concerns would be the coverage since the Lower House prefers that the modernization law should be implemented only in the selected areas like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), in the National Capital Region (NCR), and three other regions.
The Senate, on the other hand, wanted the automation program to take effect in two provinces and in one city each in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Borra said they still hope that the House and the Senate would be able to pass the modernization bill before October to enable them to automate the counting and canvassing in the forthcoming elections.
"Unless the Senate and the House of Representatives want to expedite the hearing on the bill that automated elections would be done only in selective areas plus the supplier, once we release the terms of reference (TOR) and immediately provide the equipment then we might be able to automate the election next year," the commissioner added.
So far, Borra said the Comelec has not come up with their version of the technology since it is the advisory council that is tasked to do that.
He said the members of the advisory council are representatives of the science and technology department, University of the Philippines (UP), the Philippine Computer Society (PCS), the Information Technology Foundation (ITFP), and other non-government organizations (NGOs).
Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., for his part, said he hoped that the modernization bill would be passed before October to give them enough time to prepare. He said both local and foreign companies are allowed to join the bidding provided they could supply the needed equipment and technology that is "appropriate" for use in the Philippines.
The Comelec has allocated P1.3 billion budget for the modernization program. (MSN/Sunnex)
(June 9, 2006 issue)
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