SPARE THE PUBLIC FROM ANOTHER CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE - ANGARA
Senate to pass poll automation bill beefed up with transparency and accountability

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today assured the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the public that the Senate will approve the P11-B supplemental appropriation for the use of an Automated Election System in the conduct of 2010 national and local elections, after its expected passage in the Lower House next week.

"As far as the Senate is concern, we will pass this as an appropriation bill. We will vote P11.3-B as supplemental budget for full automation and there are no ifs and buts nor reservation. We are not going to impose any condition on the kind of technology, vendor or specification. Two conditions we will impose is that, (1) the entire process will be transparent and we will describe the meaning of that on the final version and (2) that the COMELEC will make the decision on specifics so that the Senate will not second-guess them and they have to be accountable for that decision to the public and the Senate," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "We have to be assured of the safety and accuracy of the system more than the cost, because we cannot allow another growth national anxiety over an election which is tainted by fraud. Passing the appropriation bill and consequently automating the elections will spare the public from fear and doubts in the new leadership. And this is what we don't want - a crisis of confidence."

Angara also urged the COMELEC to prepare a primer--a Q&A primer to explain all the worries and doubts raised by the representatives during the debates in the Lower House.

COMELEC has already expressed its commitment to come up with the primer on Monday for the use of Senators and Representatives.

Angara, through the Finance Committee, conducted its second public hearing to flesh out the P11-B proposed outlay as laid down by SB 2984 which seeks to authorize a supplemental appropriation in order to conduct an automated election.

This supplemental appropriation is on top of the P5.3 - billion allocation of COMELEC as part of the proposed P1.415 - trillion FY 2009 General Appropriations Act.

"Poll automation will pave way for clean, orderly and speedy elections which is the hallmark of democracy and lies at heart of Filipinos' democratic aspirations," added Angara.