Human factor slows test of vote counting system

Sophisticated, secure, and fast. Or at least it was supposed to be.

Philippine Multi-Media System Inc. (PMSI) put to the test yesterday its very small apperture terminal (VSAT) or satellite data transmission that would be used for the May 10 elections, but to forgot to factor in speed.

"As I told you, that is the problem. We are dependent on the people counting the votes. So we have to wait and right now it is already lunch break," said PMSI program manager officer Renato Lim.

Counting of votes reverted to the old manual system after the Supreme Court nullified in January the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) automated counting machine purchase contract. The ACMs are to compliment VSAT.

"Maybe the voters really took the voting seriously although we only used fictitious candidates," said Lim in explaining the delay to the impatient mediamen during a press conference.

PMSI was supposed to receive results from the cities of Baguio, Bacolod and Lipa at the end of voting scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m.. But until after lunchtime, only Baguio had turned in its results.

"Baguio is faster because it had a low voter turnout, but with the rest we had 100 percent," Lim said. One hundred percent means 100 designated voters cast their vote. Baguio had only 30 percent voter turnout while Lipa, as it turned out later, was not much better at 46.

Lim said their field personnel were never told that speed would be paramount.

"This test is only to show the efficiency of the machines," he said. To test the accuracy of the transmission, the result of the manual counting was also faxed to the PMSI’s National Consolidating Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa, for comparison.

Lim said that come election day, they expect to consolidate substantial election results about 36 hours after counting is concluded at the precinct level. PMSI will be deploying one satellite dish for each of the country’s municipalities and cities.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, who was present for the test, said that with the use of VSAT Comelec will have its own unofficial quick count that could deter any attempt to cheat or manipulate results.

Abalos declared the dry run successful even though it had yet to be completed by the time he left for a luncheon engagement.