Comelec to use PCOS machines in 2013 polls

By RedjieCawis

BAGUIO CITY -- The Commission on Elections will  use the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in the upcoming 2013 midterm elections.

Commission on Election Commissioner Armando Velasco bared this here saying the Supreme Court has already decided purchase of PCOS machines from  Smartmatic Corporation is valid and legal.

Velasco said that the Comelec is now conducting upgrading to enhance system of PCOS machines which were first used in the 2010 presidential elections.

The use of the PCOS machines, he  said, was proven effective and is a milestone in the Philippine history since it delivered accurate information and results immediately after the elections compared to the manual counting that was practiced in the country  for a long time.

“It is wiser to use the PCOS machines than to go back to manual election,” he said.

According to Velasco, since the election will be in the next six months, there is not enough time to look for another provider of the automated system of election thus Smartmatic will still be provider.