Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Enrile Uy and Senator Imee Marcos favour the hybrid election system.
Uy made his preference for the hybrid election system known just before the communications committee of the powerful Commission on Appointments decided to recommend the confirmation of his appointment as DICT chief by the CA in its plenary session tomorrow
He prefers a hybrid system wherein counting at the precinct level would be done manually and the transmission of results will be automated.
It was also during the CA committee hearing that Senator Marcos maintained that a hybrid election system could provide the people with evidence not available in the current automated system.
Marcos, who filed Senate Bill No. 1950 or the Hybrid Election Act in the previous Congress, said the proposed system shouldn’t be complicated and would also provide evidence that is unavailable in the current system that is dependent on machines
In his CA committee appearance, Uy asked the help of Congress to fund the cybersecurity of the country.
He said that the proposed proposed cybersecurity budget in the 2023 DICT budget was sliced by one half and thus has no funds to purchase equipment to protect the country’s digital infrastructure.
Uy said the primary concern of DICT is to protect the country’s cyberspace from organised cybercriminals and from state-sponsored cyber attack.
He pointed out that DICT has prepared a national cybersecurity framework for 2023 until 2028 and this would be rolled out next year.
Uy said DICT is considering a DICT- public-private partnerships (PPP) and coordination with local government units (LGUs) to hasten the national broadband program which is for a wider in internet connection.
He pointed out that some P100 billion is needed for a nationwide internet connectivity but only P2.5 billion was allocated in the 2023 national budget.
Senator Nancy Binay, chairperson of the Senate tourism committee, asked Uy to prevent the proliferation of fraudulent electronic arrival platforms that take advantage of unsuspecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other travelers coming to the Philippines.
Binay raised the changes in the travel declaration system being implemented by the government for entering travelers.
She also noted the fake website that charges inbound passengers $70 in exchange for the e-Arrival Card.
Recently, the DICT launched the "eTravel" portal which serves as a one-stop electronic travel and health declaration system for travelers. Uy said this addresses the varying declaration platforms being used by different government agencies. "I'm hoping with this new 'eTravel,' no more of our countrymen would fall victims and pay ," Binay said in mixed English and Filipino.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, sought clarification on Uy’s “abrupt” resignation as deputy clerk of court for information technology when he was with the Supreme Court (SC) in 2005.
She said reports alleged that Uy resigned from his position due to purported anomalies discovered by former Justice Antonio Carpio.
Hontiveros said they also got information that Uy was made to resign by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. after an investigation on him.
Uy said Davide knew his plan to resign but had asked him to stay and help institute judicial reforms at the SC.
He said he had tendered his resignation six months prior to Davide’s retirement but Davide wanted his resignation to coincide with his retirement.
Uy emphasized that Davide and former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban issued a commendation letter to him before their retirement.
Uy cited financial obligations to his family as his reason for his resignation. “My father was subsidizing me and encouraged me to leave the government. My salary was not enough if I want to send my children to good schools,” Uy said.
Hontiveros asked Uy to submit to the committee a copy of his clearance from the High Tribunal.