Amidst current reports on the altering of the
election process from the use of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine
last year to a much modern method by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), it
made me think if the shift is timely and much cost- effective or is it better
to stay and just improve on what we have now?
“It’s normal.” That
was what SMARTMATIC, country’s supplier of PCOS machine, replied toward
inquisitions brought by widespread glitches caused by the machine last May 13,
2013 midterm elections. It is considerably a déjà vu for most Filipinos to experience
automation again and for the second time around was it perfect unlike before or
still an epic failing?
Missing names in
the voter’s list, PCOS breakdowns, switching of ballots, vote-buying, Board of
Election Inspectors(BEI) Scare, widespread sabotage attempts and long queues
brought by unexpected disruptions augmented by hot rays of summer causing grouches
and disenfranchisement by few to exercise their right to suffrage.
It seems like
everyone prodded automation, being one of the 10- point agenda of the former
administration and paid by taxpayers by an amount of P 1.8 billion, as the main
reason for our own difficulty in conducting this important ritual of democracy.
“This must be the last time we will use that machine!” exclaimed by a private
election watchdog.
But despite all of
those hassles, COMELEC proudly says that the election last year was smooth. The
Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP
described it as “generally peaceful”, SmartMatic says “its normal”, and even PNoy
express his own appreciation for his wonderful election experience. The National
Government thinks optimistic with this advancement and we could seemingly notice
in their eyes, it was and is really better than before.
Development and
change, these are what our leaders dream for having an automated election. Though
it requires effort, money, and dedication, the commission pushes it through for
they believe that this is what the country need and of what time requires. A change
that will stretch us out of our limitations, will ring us out of the
traditional and moreover, will reward us the success we could never get from
the manual method.
Dramatical change,
this is what we really experiences. A change that requires a process in a span
of time, a process we can never obtain in just a blink. What SmartMatic had
said is true, “It’s normal”. Having glitches are part of that change. If I’m
going to decide whether to alter it or not, I bet to stick with what we have
now and just improve it.
Failures are part
of this walk, stepping stones toward perfection. I believe that we are on our
way towards it.
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