Comelec Advisory Council convening soon

MANILA, Philippines - Science and Technology Undersecretary Fortunato de la Peña yesterday said efforts are underway to convene the Commission on Elections Advisory Council (CAC) soon to prepare for the May 2013 automated polls.

De la Peña also denied the claim of political analyst Ramon Casiple that the abolition of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) would delay the preparations for the elections.

He said under Section 8 of the Poll Automation Law, the advisory council should be convened not later than 18 months prior to the next scheduled electoral exercise.

He said the CICT was actually not abolished, but was just transferred to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and was renamed Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO).

De la Peña, who is also the ICTO officer-in-charge, said he would also sit as chairman of the CAC. He is a member of the CAC, representing the DOST.

De la Peña said he would appoint another person to represent the DOST.

He said he is now finalizing the appointments of the CAC members.

Under the law, the CAC shall recommend to the Comelec the “most appropriate, secure, applicable and cost-effective technology” to be used for the automated election system.