TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) – To ensure vote integrity in the May 12 national and local elections, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has certified more than 14,000 electoral board (EB) members in Eastern Visayas.
During a March 25 “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” program in Tacloban City, DOST Assistant Regional Director Marilyn Radam said the EB members underwent a month-long training program to operate the upgraded automated counting machines (ACMs).
“They had to complete all activities within 30 minutes,” Radam said. “This time pressure was intentional to assess the teachers’ proficiency. Prior to the practical exams, they received lectures and operated the machines multiple times.”
Florentino Quiñones, DOST-8 regional course certifier, said the EB members, composed of chairpersons and poll clerks, are now equipped with the necessary skills for a smooth and reliable election.
“Our designated EB members are knowledgeable on how to operate the machines,” Quiñones said. “They are also cooperative and receptive to government developments.”
DOST and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) also trained about 167 police officers.
Lawyer Maria Corazon Montallana, Comelec assistant regional election director, said the officers will serve as special electoral boards only as a last resort.
“In cases where the peace and order situation is risky for teachers, uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police may serve, but the Comelec must first determine the necessity,” Montallana said.
Rodel Cabuhoc, master teacher of Justimbaste National High School in Tabon-Tabon, Leyte, described the training as enriching and informative.
“At the start, I was surprised by the guidelines, processes, and procedures,” Cabuhoc said. “But the precise information dissemination made it easy to grasp.”
“The training provided enlightenment on using the ACM, the election process, and troubleshooting,” Cabuhoc said. “This has equipped us for the upcoming elections.”
DOST Eastern Visayas established a pool of more than 38 certifiers across the region, including six supervising certifiers for the six provinces of Eastern Visayas.
Under the Amended Automated Election Law or Republic Act 9369, DOST is mandated to oversee the certification of electoral board members as information technology-capable individuals who can operate the automated counting machines. (CBA/PIA Eastern Visayas)
