Comelec vows faster than in US counting if...

MANILA, Philippines - A Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner has promised a vote-counting process faster than that of the United States in the 2010 polls, but on two conditions. Online news site The News Today reported commissioner Leonardo Leonida said they will need P11.3 billion for automation, and rebels should not bomb cell sites. "By midnight, we will already know who won," he said, adding, chances are big that Congress would be able to pass a supplemental budget. Once Congress passed the proposed appropriations, he said, the Comelec will proceed with the bidding for the automation system. So far, he said the single major obstacle to the computerization of the country's voting system is there is no budget yet. Leonida pointed out that in the last US presidential elections, the country's next president was known within the day following the actual voting. But since the Philippines is very much smaller than the US in terms of size and population, he said the new president will be known by midnight. On the other hand, he said the Comelec will ask armed groups to refrain from blowing cell sites before the elections. "With electronic transmission, even if the country is made up of islands, we could speedily relay the results, just as long as there are mobile phone signals," Leonidas said. "We will ask our friends not to blow cell sites in the mountains before May 10. After that, on May 11, they can do whatever they want," he added. Meanwhile, the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said their voters' education program has already started. Namfrel and PPCRV head Henrietta de Villa said they will negotiate with a nationwide association of private schools to allow them to conduct voter's education symposia in the campuses. "We are trying to mold a new generation of voters who will vote based on the principles and programs, and not on relationship or popularity," de Villa said. She also said they might tap students enrolled in the National Service Training Program to serve as election volunteers. Also, she said they will ask the Commission on Higher Education that services rendered by students as volunteers for Namfrel, PPCRV or any other voter's organizations be credited against the 200-hour requirement under the NSTP. - GMANews.TV