COMELEC

This is Windy. I was teasing Lainy about COMELEC. This is the gist of the discussion we had.

What does the acronym COMELEC mean?

Does it mean COME ELECt?

Or more appropriate under the present circumstance,

would it mean COME ELECtricity?

Of course it is truly known as,

Commission on Elections

What do you think the decibel meter reading these days is over at COMELEC’s head office?

Several months ago, I left a Comment at Lainy’s Boss’ blog, Bottom Lines, stating my doubts for a smooth automated operation. It is due to the brownouts that plague the Philippines. Brownouts were part and parcel of life back in 1980 when I lived and worked in Manila. 30 years onwards and it is very much the same today.

I have read umpteenth assurances from COMELEC’s Press statements and that random and ubiquitous brownouts will not be an issue come National (automated) Vote Day. Not totally convinced themselves I suppose, COMELEC’s Officers reneged and said that if brownouts impede the progress of automated voting on the day itself, Plan B will be executed – pencil and paper. Just pray that the Philippines does not suffer a cartel on pencil and paper before National Vote Day because there is no Plan C.

Only a couple of days ago, Mindanao, the largest island in the Philippines was given an Energy Crisis declaration by the Philippine President. The rest of the country although not as severely hit, limps with Energy rationing.

The causes for the rationing of electric supply were reportedly due to leaking boilers and drastic reduction in water supply for hydroelectric stations.

To introduce a project of this magnitude and aware of the incorrigible, erratic Energy situation, COMELEC should have adopted a more comprehensive think tank approach rather than assuming automation merely equates to plug and play.

The Philippine Department of Energy cannot be absolved. Having known from previous El Niño effects, decades have passed without the DOE dealing pro-actively. Simple people are naturally pro-active. They keep candles at home.

What are the chances now for El Nino to dissipate early enough and for the Philippine skies fill the water cachement locations ?

And after the boilers are fixed what are the chances for some other long overdue maintenance item to sieze and go bust at the Energy generating stations?

Oh, Murphy’s Law to the fore!

Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

But may I make a dig? The money that was spent for automated voting should have gone first to subsidize, expand and modernize Energy supply in the Philippines.

G L E N N