merchant
Number of posts : 83
KARMA : 2
Registration date : 2009-02-23
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 Subject: Malacañang insists on full automation of 2010 elections Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:53 am |
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03/06/2009 | 07:49 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Amid reports that some of its allies at the House of Representatives are still moving for a hybrid system in the 2010 elections, Malacañang insisted Friday on having full automation in the 2010 elections.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Palace remains committed to implementing full automation in 2010, saying this is a priority of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
"The stand of the Palace on that is consistent with the vision of the President, full automated election in 2010. Sana naman ngayon lalo na ito at natutuwa ang pangulo at congratulate natin ang mambabatas [that] they passed the supplemental budget for the program of automated elections. Sana naman yan ay talagang yan ang mangyayari at yan ang gagawin ng Kongreso at ng Comelec na siyang mag-i-implement nito," Remonde said over radio dwIZ.
[The stand of the Palace is consistent. There will be full automated elections in 2010. The President was happy with the passage of the P11.3-billion supplemental budget for automated elections. I hope Congress and the Commission on Elections will be one with us on this.]
He said the Palace expects no major obstacle in implementing a fully automated system in next year’s elections.
On the other hand, he still did not give a date on when President Arroyo will sign into law the P11.3-billion supplemental budget for the automated polls.
The Senate and the House of Representatives passed the supplemental budget before going on a month-long recess.
Despite this, several Palace allies at the House reopened debates for a cheating-prone manual system in 2010.
Some Palace allies earlier batted for a “hybrid" system that involves manual counting for candidates in local positions, and automated counting for those in national positions.
The Comelec had warned such a system will be more costly because it will entail added personnel and equipment in the counting centers.
"We reiterate our position na full automation ang halalan in 2010, nanatili yan as a priority program ni Pangulong Arroyo [We reiterate our position of full automation for elections in 2010. That remains a priority program of President Arroyo]," Remonde said in a separate
interview on dzXL radio.
On when the bill would be signed into law, Remonde merely said that Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. had submitted some "recommendations" to Mrs. Arroyo, but refused to comment on speculations these recommendations include vetoes on the government’s economic stimulus package.
"I’m sure hindi na tatagal yan [I’m sure it won’t be long before she signs it into law]," he said.
On Thursday, opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson warned of possible legal problems if the 2009 budget is not signed into law before the P11.3-billion supplemental budget.
"Pag sinabi mo supplemental ano sinu-supplement mong pinasa nating kagabi, wala pa tayong budget? What are we supplementing [If you say supplemental, what will it supplement if you have not even passed the main national budget]?" Lacson said. - GMANews.TV
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