P.4 million for Comelec office aircon OK'd

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña has approved the request for the Cebu City government to spend over P400,000 for new airconditioning units of the office of the Commission on Elections.

City election officers Marchel Sarno and Edwin Cadungog have requested assistance from Osmeña in the acquisition of three units of “five toner” and two “window type” two-horsepower air-conditioning units, two laptops, two units of exhaust fans and spare parts for their existing aircon units.

Sarno and Cadungog explained that because the May 10, 2010 elections will be fully automated, they were advised by the City Hall’s building maintenance services to purchase additional airconditioning units.

The election officers said that their existing aircons have “always malfunctioned because of wear and tear.”

Maintenance personnel John Paul Gelasque said that the Comelec office which occupies a space at a rented building along Osmeña Boulevard has five aircon units only; not enough to cool the “huge place” causing inconvenience to the occupants and to the public.

Councilor Nestor Archival, who reviewed the request of the two election officers, excluded the two exhaust fans without giving any reasons.

According to Archival, the estimated amount of the purchase of the airconditioning units, including the two units of laptops, would reach to P407,998.

Osmeña approved Archival’s recommendation to charge the amount to the Pagcor funds.

Cadungog and Sarno explained that before the full implementation of the automation of next year’s polls, there is a necessity to conduct massive information dissemination and voter’s education that is why they need to acquire laptops.

They said that the Comelec will also conduct continued satellite registrations to maximize turnout of voters for wider participation of constituents. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)