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Did
the SMS System of Reporting Work?
NAMFREL originally intended to use an SMS system for reporting
backed up by e-mail and internet-based transmission. However, the
SMS system did not turn out to be as effective as we had expected
or hoped. The issue was not one of technology or design (although
admittedly, a less stringent design might have been more effective).
Rather, it was primarily because the master list of precincts that
we received from the Comelec Central Office turned out to be inconsistent
with the master lists that our chapter chairmen received from Comelec's
local offices.
The basic control number of our database was the Precinct No.,
which was likewise the most critical component of the SMS and Internet
systems that we designed. Precincts were supposed to be pre-assigned
to volunteers.
Thus, when a volunteer reports the results from a precinct, the
system is able to check if the Precinct No. being reported is in
fact valid. This is one of the checks that the system does to prevent
fake volunteers or "ghost" precincts from being reported to us.
Unfortunately, even a valid precinct result, if reported using a
number that is non-existent in our database, will also be rejected
by the system. For example:
What is stored in our database is 86, because that's what we picked up from Comelec Central's master list of precinct numbers. But we didn't have 122A-123A. So if 112A-123A was reported to us, that would be considered invalid Precinct No. and the sender would receive the message, "Precinct 122A-123A does not exist" or "You are not allowed to submit for Precinct 122A-123A." This was only one of several system functions that used and depended on precinct numbers. Imagine therefore several thousand texters sending precinct reports to the system almost at the same time and being responded to with the above message. Many of those reports would be held, pending resolution, instead of moving on to be tabulated. This accounted for 80 percent of the perceived delay. The rest was accounted for by normal and expected challenges when an organization — especially 200,000-300,000 strong — adopts a new and exciting technology. We still have high hopes for the possibilities of this type of technology. If it is to be used in the future, however, a much longer timeframe should be allotted for volunteer training. While Filipinos are indeed adept with "texting," training and practice are mandatory for "formatted" texting. The Elections Results
While we have originally listed Senator Rodolfo Biazon as being
the No. 12 slot ahead of fellow Senator Robert Barbers in Report
82 on June 5 (at 79.2 percent of precincts reported), subsequent
reports submitted during the audit and terminal report preparation
period subsequently indicated that Senator Barbers had overtaken
Senator Biazon for No. 12 in our Terminal Report (with 82.98 percent
of precincts covered). |
More Assessments
Previously in Focus |
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