Comelec-South Cotabato addresses signal issues for PCOS

KORONADAL CITY - The Commission on Elections in South Cotabato has started signal mapping activities to determine areas where communications signals are poor and find solutions, the provincial election supervisor said Friday.Lawyer Jay Gerada, South Cotabato election chair, said precinct and signal mapping have been on going in many voting centers or public schools in the province to ensure transmission of data from the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines go smoothly on election day next year.In areas where internet signal is impossible, Gerada said the poll body will be using portable satellite facilities.Gerada said only about five percent of the voting precincts in the province could be affected by signal issues. These are found in the remote villages ofLake Sebu, T’boli and few sub-villages ofSurallah.
The election supervisor hopes the improving coverage of telecommunication firms will provide solutions to poor signal problem of the poll body in time for next year's elections.