THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) started on Monday its series of public demonstrations and presentations on automated voting for the August 11 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), at a public forum organized by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), an election watchdog.

Elections Chairman Jose Melo and the rest of the five-man commission unanimously decided a few weeks ago to proceed with the automation of the ARMM elections in order to pilot-test existing technologies in preparation for the 2010 national elections.

The two service providers, namely, Smartmatic-Sahi Technologies Inc. and Avanti International Technologies Inc. welcomed PPCRV’s invitation to give a public demonstration of their respective machines and technologies.

Smartmatic-Sahi Technologies Inc. will implement a direct recording electronic system in Maguindanao, while Avante International Technologies Inc. will provide optical mark reader technology for the other five ARMM provinces.

CA to Meralco: Refund P.5M to couple

THE Lopez-controlled Manila Electric Co. must pay a couple P500,000—lower than the demanded P1.38 million—as “temperate damages” for a defective electric meter that resulted in an unreasonable increase in their electric bills.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The military on Monday filed a cease-fire violation complaint before the Joint Committee on Cease-fire and Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH) against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whom it accused of starting the fighting in Basilan, on Sunday.

PRESIDENT Arroyo on Monday sent off a 30-member medical mission to Burma to help in international relief efforts for victims of a devastating cyclone that hit that country early this month.

AS the rainy season starts and a number of typhoons are expected to hit the country, billboard advertisers assured that they have complied with the regulations set by government agencies concerned and met the latest engineering standards.

NATIONAL Police Traffic Management Group (TMG) personnel on Monday conducted a crackdown on violators of the “no plate, no travel” policy and bagged at least 50 violators inside Camp Crame, Quezon City, the force’s general headquarters.

THE volume of motor-vehicle traffic in the island-province of Basilan has posted a marked increase during the last two years.

It may be an indication of the increase in economic activities on this island, which was associated in the past with Abu Sayyaf-linked fighting and kidnappings.

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) started on Monday its series of public demonstrations and presentations on automated voting for the August 11 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), at a public forum organized by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), an election watchdog.