January 29th, 2010 by Malayang Halalan
Smartmatic-TIM is, as of this moment, conducting the second round of field tests for its PCOS machines. This time around, the tests will be done in several schools in Pateros and Taguig.
Just like the previous field test, the Smartmatic-PCOS machines will be tested to see if it can read the ballots, count the votes, and transmit results. It will also see if the computers at the receiving end of the system will be able to receive and decode the transmitted data.
In the first round of field tests, the PCOS machines encountered difficulty in transmitting from a location in Lake Sebu which in a valley. Nevertheless, the Smartmatic-TIM people conducting the field tests overcame the transmission problem by using a B-GAN (which is the big brother equivalent of the usual broadband modem) and transmitted the data.
Such field tests are being conducted to find out or spot difficulties that might be encountered in May 2010 — when the actual elections will take place. Difficulties that are spotted during the field tests will be studied and remedies will be implemented either on the spot or through adjustments in the plans for the actual roll out of the automated election system.
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January 28th, 2010 by Malayang Halalan
How does Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Gibo Teodoro, and Dick Gordon intend to improve public education?
There is a wide gap between public and private education in the Philippines, something which the Philippine dept. of education of past administrations has tried to address for decades but failed miserably.
We should vote for a candidate because they’ve presented to us a clear and credible plan for how they will improve our country.
One of the biggest problems facing our country is poverty.
While most people think that poverty is simply a state of being without wealth, the better insight is that poverty is a lack of choice or options.
One thing that has proven to be an effective way to beat poverty by giving people better options is good education.
On reading the news today, Malayang Halalan found out that a group of captains of industries and concerned citizens has called for an Education President or a President that will prioritize rescuing the decrepit public education system. Calling themselves the Philippine Business for Education or PBEd, the group has called on Presidential candidates to consider adopting their 10 point Education Reform Agenda.
The PBEd, a major pillar of Education Nation, includes such business heavyweights as Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Corp.), Oscar Lopez (First Philippine Holdings Corp.), Manuel V. Pangilinan (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.), Washington Sycip (The SGV Group), Lance Gokongwei (JG Summit Holdings), Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee Food Corp.) and Marixi R. Prieto (Philippine Daily Inquirer).
The “10 doable things” envisioned to reform Philippine education are:
• Increasing the education budget to 4 percent of the gross national product to make it at par with other countries.
• Enhancing basic education by adding two more years to it.
• Promoting academic excellence by developing globally benchmarked standards of excellence.
• Developing community ownership of schools.
• Ensuring universal access to education.
• Strengthening higher education.
• Empowering teachers.
• Building transparency and accountability.
• Supporting private education.
• Maximizing alternative learning.
– As printed in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s website
A number of candidates have already emphasized that improving the public education system is on top of their agenda and it will be a good exercise to scrutinize what these candidates have said about what they intend to do for public education thus far.
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January 27th, 2010 by Malayang Halalan
Only a meteor slamming into the Philippines can cause a massive breakdown of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines resulting in a failure of automated elections, a congressman said Wednesday.
“I always believe that if a meteor hits the Philippines and knocks out all the machines, then we can go to manual and we will use the ballots and we will count them one by one,” Locsin told Mornings@ANC.
Locsin, chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage, also believes that the Comelec’s automation calendar is still on time despite the delays in the delivery of the PCOS machines.
“Actually we are not late. Overall, the delivery of all the machines is still on time… So far, they are still on time. As I’ve said, we are going ahead,” the congressman said ahead of the scheduled joint congressional hearing on the poll automation at the Senate.
Continue reading ‘Only a meteor hitting the Philippines could stop poll automation’
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January 27th, 2010 by Malayang Halalan
Success! Smartmatic-TIM conducts successful field testing, disproving concerns over automated election failure once again.
Despite all the doubts raised against the country’s first ever real attempt at automating its electoral process, Smartmatic-TIM is showing that it is following through on its commitment to the Commission of Elections and the Filipino people to deliver a reliable poll automation system.
At the Oversight Committee Hearing today, Smartmatic-TIM and Comelec faced a new round of grilling from congressmen who registered their doubts and concerns over the implementation of poll automation.
Paranaque Congressman Roilo Golez was among those who questioned the Comelec’s preparation of a contingency plan for a 30 percent failure scenario. Comelec Legal Department Head Ferdinand Rafanan explained that this was just a contingency plan and was in no way an indication that elections would fail in 30 percent of the country’s precincts.
Nevertheless, even as the hearing went on, Smartmatic-TIM went through with its field testing and proved without a doubt that poll automation would work.
Continue reading ‘Smartmatic-TIM PCOS machines pass field tests’
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January 27th, 2010 by Malayang Halalan
Herbert Bautisa, Liberal Party candidate for Quezon City Mayor, swears not to steal but is charged with theft.
Yesterday, 700 candidates of the Liberal Party pledged not to steal from government at the historic Club Filipino in Green Hills, San Juan, Quezon City.
Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas were both there to lead the candidates in consecrating themselves to a mission of restoring integrity and morality in governance.
Roxas underscored the importance of this mission, saying:
“We are seeking power not for power’s sake, but so that we may serve the people in the name of honesty, decency, integrity and compassion.”
Continue reading ‘700 Liberal Party bets swear not to steal, but LP QC Mayor bet charged with theft’
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