Comelec Eastern Visayas to train 11,508 teachers on vote counting machine use

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 8 (PNA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Eastern Visayas will train 11,508 teachers next month on how to operate the vote counting machines (VCMs) in preparation for the May 9 polls.

These teachers will man 5,754 clustered precincts in the region during the Election Day. Two trained teachers will be deployed for each clustered voting center, according to Comelec Eastern Visayas Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros.

"After the training, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be certifying teachers to test their competence, skill and capacity to be able to serve as our Board of Election Inspectors. 

Those who fail will not serve in the May 9 elections," Mendros said.

The two-day training will be held in six cities and provincial capitals in the region early next month. The training of trainers has already kicked off at the Comelec main office.

Only 30 teachers will be trained for each classroom for them to easily absorb training topics, according to Mendros.

The Comelec regional office recommended to hold roadshows in all provinces to help the public familiarize the safety and security features of the new VCMs.

The units are updated models of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used during the 2010 and 2013 elections. The Comelec said the old PCOS machines would be refurbished and used for the 2019 mid-term elections.

The poll body needs about 97,000 counting machines for this year’s elections. These VCMs are manufactured by Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. in Taiwan. (PNA)

BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO