Philippine Elections: Changing the Landscape

The Government of the Philippines' Commission on Elections and its allied government agencies can do well to modernize the whole gamut of equipment and software now existing and in use within the Commission.

In April 2013, private sector group encouraged the head of that agency to upgrade the Comelec system to the state-of-the-art and the best communications technology. Considering the dynamics of government approval of unsolicited proposals, it may either take a long process before the public sector responds to the proposal, but it is also possible that government may not mind encouragements such as this at all.

The following companies mentioned below, among many other suppliers for an integrated election mapping and results delivery system, are the real choice technology service providers.

Below is the text of the declassified communique sent by private sector to Comelec:

NOTE: This site hereby publishes currently corporation declassified commercial confidential data on the offer to the Philippine Government for integrated election mapping systems. This declassification does not in any way make government recipient of formerly corporate classified item as accountable and liable.

DECLASSIFIED INFORMATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

  

This is to acknowledge receipt of the following documents pertaining to the proposed project to procure and install the technology for the Election Mapping Canvassing Technology exclusively prepared for The Commission on Elections from the CTI to undertake said project.

The recipient acknowledges the intellectual proprietary rights of CTI over these materials and secrecy in the handling of said as well as refraining from the revelation of its contents to any other party not involved in the project shall be fully observed unless otherwise it shall be done with the express consent of the owner in writing.

The validity of the offer shall be a minimum of thirty days only with possible extension of only up to a maximum of forty five days wherein which the terms of this offer may then be withdrawn.  Acceptance of these materials does not bind the Commission on Elections to any transaction unless and until it signifies full interest thereto.

Authorized Signatory

FOR:  THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN, COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

SUBJECT: PROJECT BRIEF

RE:  ELECTION MAPPING, CANVASSING TECHNOLOGY

DATE:  APRIL 30, 2013

Brief Description. C4I technology to allow the head of office of the Commission on Elections to be able to view, at several seconds to minutes upon declaring the close of voting at the precincts, the real and actual consolidated results of the elections from the precinct level, precinct cluster, district, municipal, city-province, regional and the national level. The project is intended to fully automate the 2016 elections with sample downgraded test run and partial commissioning during the Barangay and other special elections.

The technology consists of the following:

1. state-of-the-art computing hardware – Cray and IBM (or equivalent) mainframe
2. municipal mapping technology from Caliper Technology  USA
3. networking software from Oracle
4. digital data compiler, reader from ArcGIS, Caliper and allied company
5. full function communication network (commnet) integrator for interoperability from Harris Corporation, USA, GeoSQL of Canada and other service providers

For the requirements from the GOP side, the following are vital:

1. account Coordinates
2. project site
3. a civil works and NTC licensed communications works contractor

This serves as a formal letter of intent.

Sample Election Management Systems suppliers:

1. Caliper Technologies

2. ESRI (ESRI supplies the ARC GIS software at NAMRIA and the Land Registration Authority):

3. Critigen Election Managemsystems integrators

4. Harris Corporation Florida USA

 

Supplier of integrated communications system, satellite communications, and all-application government integrated information technology hardware and software.

5.  Oracle Corporation

Provider of networking service, most applicable to geographic information systems-based solutions for business and industry.

THE INTEGRATED ELECTION MAPPING SYSTEMS PROJECT FOR THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

BACKGROUND OF

THE PROJECT

  

From 1991-1992, to the present, proponents, from CTI., the Centre Di Humanes et Societas Inc. (privateassociation) encouraged the Government of the Philippines (GOP) to venture into the establishment of a full function C4I system.

The proponent originally encouraged GOP, towards the establishment of a Satellite Communications (SATCOMM) Research and Development body, the Philippine Safety Development Council (PSDC) – that eventually became legislated into the National Transportation Safety Board, Department of Transportation and Communications (NTSB, DOTC) around 1997-1998, a C4I system at the Department of National Defense, a central emergency coordinating center with Geographic Information System for national and regional disasters (Disaster GIS) Office of Civil Defense at the Department of National Defense that acts as the Secretariat for the National Disaster (Response) Coordinating Council (NDCC).

In 1995-1996, the proponents spearheaded the conduct of the private sector-led Air Traffic Control Master Planning for the Republic of the Philippines with support from Harris Corporation (Florida  USA).  The prospect of Air Traffic Services privatization was foreseen around this time with a proposal for Harris to arrange for financing for the venture through the Asian Development Bank (ADB).  While this effort was coursed by former Pres. Fidel Ramos through the House of Representatives and was therefore stalled, it signalled a positive development at that time in the aviation sector enough to be able to avert the holding of a strike being provoked by militant air traffic controllers and air navigation personnel nationwide.

There was also an offer made with Arrowhead Corporation of Nevada, command and control systems to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (J-5) Armed Forces of the Philippines.  Harris Corporation and Arrowhead were initially tagged as the main Service Providers for command and control technology and the source of financing envisioned to evolve into a concept of the Philippines’ first National Command Center.

In 1998, the proponents encouraged the intelligence community through the National Security Council (NSC) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), as a token or minimum support to its human intelligence (HUMINT) capability, to strengthen its capability in electronic and signal intelligence (ELINT / SIGINT).

In 1999, the effort of the proponent was augmented through networking with the Safety Organization of the Philippines, Inc. (SOPI).  Also at this time, the proponent encouraged the GOP to enhance the inter-operability of its land, sea and air functional units.

As earlier mentioned, an effort that was began in 1995, gained fruition in 1997-1998 when the proposed Philippine Safety Development Council was legislated into the NTSB, DOTC.  At the time, U.S. and other financing was readily available for the creation, activation and sustenance of the NTSB.  DOTC in 1996 failed to initialize the project; and when the proposal was legislated into the NTS Act of the Philippines around 1997-1998, the head of agency of the Department of Budget sat on the project.

Around 1998-1999, Siemens Belgium undertook to establish a nationwide emergency communications and control center at the Department of Transportation and Communications reached the stage of submission of the proposed Service Contract – to include the agreement on the terms and conditions of financing of the project.

This project may be revived and funding may still be made available by CTI whether or not Siemens Belgium and its counterpart financing institution may still agree provide financing under the previously offered terms of credit.

Around June 2001, the plan of the government under President Joseph Estrada to set up a Crisis Management / Operations Center was revived by the administration of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  No appropriate technology to be installed for the Center was selected.

Later, a letter proposal was submitted to The Honorable, Secretary Roilo S. Golez on 10 December 2001, following previous efforts to push for setting up a full function C4I for the Philippines.  Thereafter, it was announced that the Philippine government shall strengthen its command and control capability to be controlled at the top as exemplified by the model of the U.S. National Command Center where the National Command Authority is solely the President.

Since that announcement, very serious moves to put together the final concept for a National Command Center type of facility were undertaken but to this date, the project needs to see full fruition.

On a scale tailored for the national election mapping and canvassing system, CTI suggested that a full-function integrated systems be provided for the Commission on Elections to be in place in time for the 2016 National and Local Elections.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FROM GOP

The minimum requirements from GOP for the supply of the technology for a command and control facility shall be as follows:

a.  project site / real estate

b. project description / specs at the minimum level reached by OP.

c.  Full determination of the utility of the National Command Center technology in the following areas, including but not limited to:

(1)  improved photogrammetry and other functions of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR’s) mapping agency – NAMRIA and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ mapping service, as well as similar functions of agencies such as the Land Registration Authority, among others.

(2)  enhanced cross referencing of digitized data and imaging capability of the Department of Justice, DENR, DOTC, DND, etc.

(3)  increased velocity of inter- and intra- communications, signal relay, transmission and pre-interpretation / analysis activities.

(4)  support and augmentation for HUMINT and SIGINT capability.

d.  providing of requisite administrative details such as:

(1)  specific POPs (points of presence) of the National Command Center technology – regional, provincial, municipal, barangay / village and Precinct POPs.

(2) portraiture of existing technology trunks and communications nets and command and control chains in operation.

(3)   established guidelines to the Provider(s) for tapping into the existing C4I grid.

(4)    database development tasks.

e.  criteria for technology financing, installation and start-up commissioning (pursuant to ODA or modified versions thereof).

f.  selection of the best scheme of availment of the financial package – whether it is through Build-Lease, Build-Transfer, etc.

g. required international accreditations and network affiliations.

h.  Causing the holding of a series of executive sessions (working conferences) between the duly authorized representatives of The Government of the Philippines (GOP) and CTI, particularly as covered by the necessary documentations of authority and / or mandates, and / or delegations thereof.

i.  Manifest determination of the GOP to enjoin potential end-users to participate in making the technology function at its optimum capacity.

j.  Full cooperation by all end-users by providing firm pledges of contributions in the form of complement staff or manpower, future funds to be sourced from line budget item allocations and budget inserts for other programmed expenditures relative to improved command, computers, communications, control and intelligence capabilities of their respective sectors within the GOP.

k.  providing of appropriate documentary support to private sector participants:  security clearance, proper identifications, etc.

l.   Instituting of measures by which GOP can generate added revenues such as collection of new users’ charges, both through local determination or in cooperation with international organizations.

m.  Laying down measures to enable cost effective procurements relative to the National Command Center project.

n.  Establishing safeguards to ensure utmost protection of all informations relevant to the project from those that are not involved therein.

o.  To complete the process, causing of the signing of agreement between GOP and CTI, witnessed by technical / disinterested parties.

Specific other matters of mutual interest may be raised by the Office of the President through The Presidential Chief of Staff, Assistant Secretary Navida or through an OP officer duly designated and so authorized.

THE ROLE OF CTI

1.  On obtaining the project description, CTI may come up with a technology package to present to the Philippines and a financial package to propose thereto that show the transfer of said technology package from source to the end-user at barest minimum or no risk to GOP.

2.  With cooperation from GOP and support from members of civil society, CTI may also access Grants from any and all aid organizations through its partner CHSI.

3.  Any and all components of the technology package may be sourced by the CTI locally and abroad.  All other appurtenances such as training, maintenance – using substitutes in parts servicing and other similar activities to be undertaken domestically may be considered ideal.  But the substitution itself may be categorized as optional.  CTI reserves the option to utilize foreign components if and when domestically sourced products and services will sacrifice the quality of the undertaking.

4.  It is also simultaneously proposed that with the approval of the Government, CTI may pursue to undertake the establishment of the previously proposed Communications and Control Center (CCC) through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), so that the maximum utilization of the technology will be ensured under mutual technology cooperation and sharing agreement with the Department of National Defense (DND).

5.  CTI proposes that the legislated National Transportation Board (NTSB) may be activated to optimize the use of the technology that will be put in place for this project.  CTI may also attempt to support an effort modeled after the U.S. NTSB programme called “Safe Communities” that brings information and education on transport safety closer to the grassroots or the masses.

6.  Under the scheme to help finance the operationalization of NTSB, CTI proposes to support to augment the current capacity of air navigation facilities to enable GOP to collect additional revenues – in particular – from overflights of aircraft of various aviation organizations.

7.  CTI further proposes similar or allied facilities in the Department of Justice, the Department of Finance and relevant other agencies also be made.  CTI may or may not enter into the actual implementation of these undertakings but pledges to commit token financial assistance if and when these should be requested and if the support may be needed.

8.  CTI encourages the GOP to undertake measures leading towards the establishment of a National Reserve Armed Force as the safety provider for the new system.

9.  CTI shall enjoin RP’s technical schools circuit to be involved in research, development and small scale manufacturing for the project and promote the same concept among neighboring ASEAN countries.

Specific other matters of interest may be raised by CTI or its cooperating establishments to GOP, prior to or with the project in process.  Any and all bugs and glitches in the technology may be pointed out and identified by both CTI and GOP and may be attended to by the Provider(s) accordingly.

SUMMARY

In view of the vital importance of advocacy for this new technology for the Philippine Government through four different administrations, it was resolved that CTI through its authorized representatives should now make the appropriate formal presentations leading towards entering into agreements with GOP.

CTI envisions making the best kind of systems and technologies available not only to the country’s top executive/s, but also down the line to the lowest echelons of the public sector and further on to the grassroots for the sake of enhanced communication and better understanding among the various publics in society.

CTI suggests the causing of technical working conferences and formal courtesy reporting to government institution concerned.

The reconfiguration of the proposed infrastructure into an election mapping and canvassing system will not alter the full range of capabilities of the system to be used for various other purposes outlined herein, namely for law enforcement, logistic tracking, military and other capabilities.