VCMs arrive in Dumaguete

CEBU, Philippines - The first batch of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) for the May 9 synchronized elections have arrived in Dumaguete City, according to the Comelec-Negros Oriental yesterday.

Acting provincial election supervisor Lionel Castillano said the shipment arrived on Monday via the 2GO ferry from Manila.

An inventory on Tuesday showed a total of 569 VCMs intended for Negros Oriental in that batch, while 715 more VCMs are expected for delivery in another shipment by tomorrow, Castillano said.

The VCMs are now stored at the 2GO warehouse in Dumaguete City where a walk-through and inventory will be held next week when all the machines intended for Negros Oriental are here, he said.

Negros Oriental needs 1,284 VCMs or one unit per clustered precinct, plus a few contingency units on standby in the event that a particular machine bogs down, Castillano said.

Meanwhile, the ballot boxes to be used for the elections will be deployed tomorrow and delivered to the treasurer's office of the recipient towns and cities in Negros Oriental.

The one-day deployment by the official courier, 2GO, will be escorted by police personnel, said Castillano.

All of the ballot boxes for the VCMs had arrived here previously, except for 13 covers which will follow and will be assigned to Dumaguete City, he said.

Friday's deployment of the ballot boxes will also serve as a dry run for the one-day deployment of the VCMs on May 4 in the province, he added.

The testing and sealing will be on May 6 and on May 7 will be the delivery of the official ballots, that are expected to arrive May 2 and will have to be inventoried first.

The official ballots will then be turned over to the city and municipal treasurers with the Philippine National Police directed by the Comelec to provide strict security 24-hours, added Castillano.

On the contingency VCM units, these are expected to arrive before May 4 via air freight although he does not know yet how many will be allocated for Negros Oriental.  — (FREEMAN)