Except for a minor glitch in the transmission of test results, the Commission on Elections reported Wednesday that the field tests conducted on the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in 10 areas in the country was successful.
Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said that the small problem they encountered in Anguho Elementary School in Pateros, Metro Manila was on the SIM card they used which failed to transmit the data.
“The concern there [in Pateros] was not the system, but the use of the mobile network. After they changed the SIM card, it was able to transmit. We just changed the SIM card and that was it,†he explained.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they will conduct more trials on the SIM cards in order to avoid the same problem, especially during the May 10, 2010 elections.
“What we will do, after this, is we will test the SIM cards more strenuously to see how we can avoid such problems,†he said.
The Comelec officials did not identify the telecommunications company that owns the SIM card.
Larrazabal said that only Pateros encountered minor problem during the PCOS machines end-to-end field test out of the areas selected.
“We conducted field tests today in 10 areas. The satellite transmission from Benguet was successful. The transmission from other mobile networks were successful,†he added.
Meanwhile, Larrazabal said they will conduct another field test on Friday, January 29, also in Taguig City and Pateros that will be open to media and other observers.
According to him, some members of the joint oversight committee on poll automation also want to observe the process.
“The reason we did it [field test] is so we can simulate considering the peculiar character of each region,†he said.
Comelec tested the use of SIM cards and satellite networks for the transmission. The process started at 7 a.m. and ended at noon. (PNA)
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