{"id":629514,"date":"2014-08-15T08:43:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-15T00:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/?p=629514"},"modified":"2014-08-15T08:43:37","modified_gmt":"2014-08-15T00:43:37","slug":"old-new-machines-eyed-for-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/629514\/old-new-machines-eyed-for-2016","title":{"rendered":"Old, new machines eyed for 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine. 黑料社 FILE PHOTO<\/p><\/div>\n

MANILA, Philippines–The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is leaning toward using a combination of \u201cold and new\u201d machines for the 2016 national elections after Malaca\u00f1ang rejected the budget it requested for an \u201cintegrated system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

The Comelec preferred the integrated system to avoid complications, and had asked for a budget of P16 billion for the elections in the proposed P2.6 trillion 2015 national budget, Comelec commissioner Christian Robert Lim told lawmakers on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n

But the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) only allotted it P10.3 billion, so the Comelec has no choice but to work within this budget, Lim told the joint congressional oversight committee on the automated election system.<\/p>\n\n

Still usable PCOS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

According to Lim, the Comelec could still use 80,000 of the old precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and 6,000 brand-new ones. Including the cost of the printing of ballots and purchase of ballot boxes, the total cost would come to P6.9 billion, he said.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe really have to consider using the old with some few new so that it fits into our budget,\u201d Lim said in an interview after the hearing chaired by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Samar Rep. Mel Sarmiento.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not official yet, but it looks that way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n

The Comelec would decide which technology to use on Aug. 26.<\/p>\n\n

According to Lim, the new PCOS machines would likely be used in select areas in Metro Manila, and the old ones in the rest of the country.<\/p>\n\n

Mixed technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) has recommended that the Comelec use mixed technologies and reuse existing optical mark reader technology for the 2016 polls to ensure prudent spending, a recommendation that jibed with the DBM\u2019s position.<\/p>\n\n

The PCOS machines use the OMR technology.<\/p>\n\n

Former Comelec commissioner Gus Lagman, convenor of the Transparent Elections watchdog group, wondered why the government would spend billions of pesos to speed up counting by half a day.<\/p>\n\n

After all, in the May 2013 elections automated canvassing, aided by personal computers, laptops and servers, cut down the election process from six weeks to one, he said.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWhy should the Comelec, why should the government spend billions of pesos to shorten the election process by a mere half day?\u201d Lagman said.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWhat shortened the process from six weeks down to one was the automation of canvassing\u2026 PCOS only contributed half a day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n

The Comelec would have needed a minimum P12 billion to buy 86,000 brand new OMR machines, or an integrated system for the 2016 polls.<\/p>\n\n

Integrator needed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

By combining old and new machines, it would need an integrator. In addition, it would conduct two separate trainings and issue two general instructions for the board of election inspectors (BEIs), Lim said.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cIf you have a bigger budget, you have more flexibility,\u201d Lim added.<\/p>\n\n

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the committee could help convince the Executive Branch to grant the requested P16 billion so the Comelec could use brand new machines.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cIf we\u2019re given money, why not use something new?\u201d Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes said at the hearing. But he acknowledged that the government could save money by using the old PCOS machines.<\/p>\n\n

Brillantes said that the Comelec steering committee, headed by Lim, had been meeting regularly to prepare for the May 2016 elections.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cEverything is prepared. We\u2019re just waiting for the money. If we\u2019re given the necessary funding, we will be able to run the elections smoothly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThey [the Comelec] will be able to run the elections smoothly,\u201d said Brillantes who retires in February 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is leaning toward using a combination of \u201cold and new\u201d machines for the 2016 national elections after Malaca\u00f1ang rejected the budget it requested for an \u201cintegrated system.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":220011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,45],"tags":[217,2463],"byline":[132],"source":[206078],"column":[],"editor":[],"videographer":[],"position":[],"class_list":["post-629514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-stories","category-nation-latest-stories","tag-comelec","tag-pcos-machines","byline-tj-burgonio","source-philippine-daily-inquirer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOld, new machines eyed for 2016 | Inquirer 黑料社<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is leaning 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