VP NOLI WANTS COMPLETION OF POLL AUTOMATION BY JUNE 2009
February 26, 2009

Vice President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro said yesterday that the completion of full poll automation must be done by June of this year.

“The schedule is imperative in order to be able to have time to test the reliability of the poll automation for 2010 elections. We cannot sacrifice the quality of computerized polls if we want an honest, cleaner, faster and reliable election results,” De Castro said.

De Castro also expressed his support to the view of Commission on Election (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo that full automation should be pushed instead of the "hybrid" system of combined manual and automated counting of votes.

“If elections will not be fully computerized by 2010, then the automation plan should be scrapped entirely, otherwise, it will only result to more confusion and problems. Therefore, I urge both Houses of Congress to lend their support and set aside their partisan differences on this very important measure,” De Castro said.

De Castro also pointed out that Comelec must fast track the conversion process and ensure the proper preparation for the automated system of elections from training of personnel who will operate the new poll technology as well as the immediate orientation of voters.

“Comelec should prepare its organization and the voting public on the new election system. Likewise, I wish to emphasize the need for transparency in our bid to modernize our poll system. COMELEC must open its dry runs and tests to the public so that no doubt would be cast on Comelec’s efforts,” De Castro said.

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