ILOILO CITY - Nine technicians assigned to handle Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in 7 Iloilo towns resigned earlier this week, delaying the deployment of the machines, an election supervisor confirmed Tuesday.
Atty. Elizabeth Doronila, Iloilo Provincial Election Supervisor, said the 9 technicians were employed by Ventures Link. Incorporated., a subcontractor of PCOS machine supplier Smartmatic-TIM.
The PCOS technicians are assigned to receive the machines for testing before they are deployed and turned over to boards of election inspectors (BEIs) in the clustered precincts. They will also troubleshoot any problems encountered with the PCOS machines on election day.
The 9 technicians who resigned were originally tapped to man the machines in Oton (3), San Miguel, San Joaquin, Pototan, Dingle, Dueñas and Tubungan.
Doronila said some of the technicians resigned because their assigned localities were too far, and that their expenses would far exceed their allowance. She added that the resignations delayed the deployment of the machines to the 7 towns.
Doronila said Ventures Link Inc. will send reserve technicians to test the machines on May 7, three days before election day. If the tests are successful, the PCOS technicians will seal the machines and turn it over to the BEIs.
The machines will be kept in the polling precincts until after the elections.
Doronila said official ballots for Iloilo have been distributed to 41 municipalities and the component city of Passi. She added that other election paraphernalia such as markers, indelible ink and information tarps are still arriving and will be delivered to respective municipal city treasurer's offices.