ANGARA URGES COMELEC TO BARGAIN HARD FOR POLL AUTOMATION

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today stressed the need for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to determine every single figure in the costs of the proposed 2010 automated elections, saying that Filipinos will be deprived of a good way to have clean elections should this will not push through.

"I would strongly suggest that the advisory committee should sit down with the potential bidders and really look into every single figure in the costing because it is going to be unfortunate if this will not push through, simply because it is so expensive, that there'll be a huge public outcry against it. Whereas, you and I know that this maybe one good way to have clean elections," said Angara, during the Public Hearing of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Automated Elections.

He added, "That's why I think, it is very important that you bargain hard, and I hope that the suppliers will see also this public service element in this."

Angara also said that COMELEC should be able to incorporate in its 2009 budget the provision for the 2010 poll automation.

"Your window of opportunity is to catch the House of Representatives' hearing on the 2009 budget because it's better that your proposed budget for the 2010 elections are incorporated in the House itself. As you know, the Senate cannot tap the present budget. So it is better to negotiate it in the House," Angara explained.

In the end, Angara also urged voting machines suppliers to work hand in hand with COMELEC in order to push through with nationwide election automation.

"If this will be successful, I think this will be the one of the biggest use of their technology. So I would urge the representatives of the vendors to consider very strongly to at least donate a substantial portion of their technology for the sake of democracy, to save the democracy of the Philippines.