Cebu election officer supports replacing PCOS machines for 2016

CEBU, Philippines - While the Commission on Election (Comelec) is still waiting for the advice of the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) if the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines are still efficient to use for the 2016 elections, a Cebu election officer expressed his support on letting go of the use of the said devices.

Lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, election officer IV detailed at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES) said that if they will base the performance of the PCOS machines in the 2013 elections, he can say that it is time to let go of the PCOS.

Gujilde explained that in the recent mid-term elections, they encountered problems because of defects of the PCOS as it was not used for a period of time. The PCOS were last used in the 2010 elections.

"For me if we will improve our automation it's better to have new machines," he told the media in an interview yesterday when asked for his view on the statement of Comelec spokesman James Jimenez to upgrade the system.

Jimenez earlier assured the public that the PCOS machines will not be wasted even if it will no longer be used in the 2016 elections since there are many takers from other countries who can buy the 82,000 PCOS machines.

If there will be no takers, he added the machines will be placed in a warehouse of the Comelec.

Gujilde said this would be another reason to consider getting new machines.

"Sayang pero kung di napud siya workable, not in good condition, murag its time to avail of new machines," he added, stressing that while the PCOS machines can still be used in the 2016 polls, their experience  on glitches and delays in the 2013 polls will be repeated.

But Gujilde said that they will still wait for the decision of their central office which is also waiting for the assessment of the CAC.

The CAC is mandated under the law to recommend to the Comelec "the most appropriate, secure, applicable and cost-effective technology to be applied in the Automated Election System." — (FREEMAN)