‘La Pigos’ polls; Cordillera autonomy

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March Fianza

“Lapigos” is an Ilocano word I used to hear from my first grade teacher. It means “to squeeze” particularly the ear. Although not literally done, that must have been how election officials felt when they were grilled by members of the joint congressional committee that held a hearing about the twice delayed delivery of the PCOS or precinct count optical scan.

As discussions about automation for the May 2010 elections overheated in the joint congressional hearing last week, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro revealed that the Philippine government as represented by the Comelec is supposed to collect at least P7.1 million from Smartmatic for each day of delay in the delivery of the machines.

Rodriguez stressed that the P7.2 billion poll automation contract had a provision stating that in cases of delay, a portion of the total amount, equal to one-tenth of one percent, would be deducted for each day of delay from the amount due to Smartmatic.

He insisted that the penalty should be collected to make sure that Smartmatic will follow to the letter the agreement with the poll body.

To date, the Comelec reported that more than 50,000 PCOS machines, out of 80,000 were delivered by Smartmatic, the company that won the contract in the election automation project. The late delivery of the machines has in effect twice delayed the training of teachers who will soon be operating them.

Apart from the delays in the delivery, Comelec has to resolve hundreds of cases filed against local and national candidates who in turn filed cases against the election office, further delaying important matters that were on line, including the printing of ballots that was rescheduled from January 25 to January 30. Even that rescheduling is doubtful.

Such a situation brings chills to the bones of many who feel a looming failure in the much ballyhooed automated elections. Hence, no less than the Catholic Bishops Conference in the Philippines called on the poll body to prepare “fall back” plans.

While those who participated in the tests conducted for the machines gave positive marks regarding the speediness in processing the ballots, their faces still show bits of apprehension particularly on how the PCOS machines would be transported to remote voting centers.

In addition there is the observation that disenfranchisement of voters will double this time since five to seven voting precincts will be clustered into one voting center. A Comelec official admitted that this particular problem has not been answered in past elections even while a voting precinct then consisted a listing of only 200 voters.

Imagine 1,000 to 1,400 voters scampering around looking for their names in the list. I discussed this with a friend and he said I sound pessimistic. I told him I am only trying to sound realistic, basing my arguments on the real situation on the ground. I too hope that no bad things will happen. God forbid.
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In the latest presscon on Cordillera autonomy, Dr. Gil Bautista of the Regional Development Council hit the nail right on the head saying that in case the political set up is unanimously approved in a referendum in the future, all must improve together. “Not that some towns or provinces are improved and others are left behind.”

In the course of his delivery he cited the case of Ambuclao. “Look at Ambuclao, the community was the last to be energized despite the fact that they gave up their lands for the whole country’s (electric) development,” Dr. Bautista said.

“Pina-alis ng Manila ang mga tao sa Ambuclao, pero hindi naman sila tinulungan ma-improve,” Dr. Gil stressed his point to news reporters who may have heard of the information for the first time.

The discussion led to a point where someone asked if the panel speakers would be amenable to an “all for one – one for all” set up, considering the fact that in the past two plebiscites, Ifugao, and later Apayao voted in favor of autonomy, however, the Supreme Court said that a single province can not be an autonomous “region.”

NEDA director Juan Ngalob quickly corrected the phrase by saying that it should be “all or nothing” – meaning, it is always better if all the provinces vote in favor of autonomy.

I sat in the back and enjoyed listening more closely to the exchange of questions and answers. Then it came across my mind that – true, an autonomous region composed of all the provinces and cities of Tabuk and Baguio would always be better.

But commitment to endorse regional autonomy should be an act by all the provinces and two cities – not just one or two provinces giving up its resources of gold and water for electricity, for the benefit of the other sister provinces, if not the whole country. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com