Namfrel fixing PC software bugs that slow quick count

AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV

05/15/2007 | 04:18 PM

The quick count of the election returns may not be as quick as the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) may want it to be because of computer glitches that had somewhat slowed down processing of results from the field.

Namfrel said earlier on Monday that it would release an update of its quick count at around 1:30 p.m., it never happened.

Namfrel national chairman Edward Go told reporters on Tuesday that the software being used in the quick count is now being modified.

"It is a very complicated Excel program," he said when asked to elaborate on the problem they experienced.

He said they have started noticing the problem Monday night when the result of the election from different areas started coming in.

He added they reached the conclusion that something is wrong Tuesday morning.

He further said they are carefully checking the figures sent to them to avoid duplication.

"We want to make sure (there is no duplication) before we approve to upload (the figures)," he said.

Go said their people were having difficulty modifying the program because they were not the ones who developed the program.

He expects that the glitches will be solved by Wednesday and they will be in "much faster pace."

He also hoped that they will be able to cover 60 percent of the votes by Friday and end the canvassing by May 24.

"We have to move out by May 24 because La Salle Greenhills have committed the place (to other people)," he said.

If they will not be able to finish the canvassing by that time, he said they will transfer to another site just to continue counting the votes.

"We cannot jeopardize accuracy," he said.

He said in 2004 elections they were able to tabulate 83 percent of the election returns they received.

Nevertheless, he is still wishing that they had a smoother and faster canvassing for the first day.

'Software problems' slowing count -- Namfrel

May. 15, 2007 16:53:00

'Software problems' slowing count -- Namfrel

"Software problems" have been slowing down the quick count operations of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the chairman of the poll watchdog group admitted Tuesday.

"I have to say there have been some software problems," said Go at a press conference.

Go said Namfrel volunteers "had to modify the program" on Tuesday morning. But aside from the software problem, he also admitted an apparent lack of training of volunteers.

Namfrel uses Microsoft Excel, said Go.

"I thought there were people who have perfected the systems already [but] we've never tested the program, [which was] developed by Muntinlupa for the 2004 [presidential] elections," said Go, who assumed Namfrel chairmanship on April 13.

He said the volunteers had to remove the slots for president and vice president slots.

The Namfrel chairman also attributed the slow count to the delayed transmission of data from precincts all over the country.

"They have not transmitted the data as quickly as it happens," said Go, explaining that Namfrel tallies are based on election returns from municipalities.

"We are now shifting to reporting by ERs [election returns] so we make sure it [tally] is clean before we upload," said Go.

Namfrel last released an unofficial, partial tally shortly before lunch, an update of its 9: 40 am tally.

Namfrel is expected to release its latest count around 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Posted by : Thea Alberto at Namfrel Headquarters in La Salle Greenhills