Hocus PCOS?

Last Sunday I had the opportunity  to talk  and consult  an information technology expert about the workings of the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS)machine. The person I was talking with  practically knows the ins and outs of the  machine.

He told what was  crucial  about the PCOS machine especially if we want to have an honest and orderly midterm election. He  pointed to the software  that instructs the computer  what to read and what not to read in the machines.

Was a a nationwide mock election a  practical and good idea ? The expert said it was  good  to test  the PCOS and determine this early if there is a problem, and fix it.

The mock election would also show whether  the software can follow  instructions, meaning read correctly the names in the ballot.

After the mock election, the software should be deposited for  safekeeping to be agreed and signed by all the party representatives.  The expert also observed  that the transmission of results sometimes fails he wondered why.  He said he suspects the modems being used were of a poor quality.

With this observation, I believe that we should support the proposal of Catholic officials that the Comelec hold a nationwide mock election for the sake of transparency and honest and orderly midterm elections.

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It was a happy reunion of  friends in media when we attended the 15th anniversary of  Cebu Daily News last Friday.

I was so happy to meet once again Inday Malou Guanzon-Apalisok. We immediately talked about  political developments in the city and  her daughter Anikka, my former student, now working at the DFA and stationed in Paris.

I was also happy to  see Miss Ginny  Vamenta  still up and about, not just writing but also travelling. There was  Jaime Picornell, no longer with a cane, moving  around and looking very good. CDN publisher Eileen Mangubat was stunning  that evening and so was Thea Rinen.

It  may be late but still the same congratulations to Cebu Daily News for its 15th anniversary and to  Sandy Prieto Romualdez,  president of the Inquirer Group for the success of the paper.

Sandy was also  beautiful that evening but was serious in  challenging the CDN staff  not to rest on its laurels and to work harder to achieve more milestones.

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Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama has gotten the budget as promised for  senior citizens, but the BO-PK dominated council passed the budget with a colatilla that  assistance to  senior citizens should be released in June instead of April as  has been the practice in  previous years. The rationale for the colatilla is for the mayor not to use the assistance for political purposes.

But budget making is the prerogative of the mayor. The city council  has the power to review and approve the budget but does it include the power to command  the mayor when the budget can be released? This isn’t the  first time  this issue cropped up.

The  city council overstepped its powers  in this  budget matter.  It is the chief executive who has the power to decide when to release the budget and not the city council.

With  many senior citizens in poor health, it is important that they receive their assistance without delay.  I think they should be spared  from partisan politics.