Press Release
January 11, 2009

Gordon expects Congress to expedite supplemental budget
for 2010 poll automation

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today said he expects Congress to act with dispatch on the supplemental budget for the automation of the May 2010 elections as soon as its members return from Christmas break on Jan. 19.

Gordon made the statement as he noted that the Department of Budget and Management had finally submitted P11.9-billion supplemental budget request for poll automation to the House committee on appropriations.

"Malacañang and the Comelec (Commission on Elections) have finally done their part in the submission of the budget proposal. Now it is Congress' turn to act with dispatch on the supplemental budget for the 2010 automated elections," he said.

Gordon, author of the amended Automation Law, has repeatedly urged Comelec to promptly submit a budget proposal so that it could be immediately acted upon by Malacañang and Congress.

He explained that there is no time to waste because Comelec has to immediately start preparing for a computerized elections, which it cannot do so without the necessary budget.

Aside from acquiring automated voting and counting machines, he also added that the poll body has to organize an effective program for teachers' training and voters' education.

According to Gordon, once the budget is released to the Comelec, the poll body may start all needed preparations for a computerized 2010 elections, which would avert massive cheating that often marred the country's electoral exercises.

"The automated election is our hope for a clean, honest and credible election in our country. We have to take all the necessary steps to ensure the computerization of our national elections beginning May 2010 and onwards," he said.

"A credible election system will restore our people's trust and confidence not only in our electoral process, but also in our government," he added.

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