MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has begun training information technology (IT) specialists from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) who will determine who among teachers sitting as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) are IT-capable.

Simultaneous training sessions were held all over the country beginning Friday, when Comelec representatives taught selected DOST personnel how to operate the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and some basic troubleshooting techniques.

"Nakasalalay sa kamay ng mga ito kung ano ang mga ituturo o ica-cascade sa mga BEI. Kung mali ang maituro dito, mali rin ang maituturo sa mga BEI," said Atty. Michael Dioneda, Comelec National Capital Region director.

On Saturday, the trainees will participate in a mock election to check their readiness to be "IT-certifiers."

DOST Undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña, a member of the Comelec's advisory council on poll automation, said 407 people will be deployed to certify qualified BEIs.

Teachers must get 60% passing grade

In March, the DOST certifiers will administer written and practical examinations on PCOS operation to 160,000 teachers the day after their BEI training.

Passers will be certified right after the exam, and will be assigned to each of the 76,340 clustered precincts, where there should be at least one certified IT-capable member of the BEI.

A 60% passing grade is required for certification.

"If they (teachers) fail the written exam, they will still be allowed to proceed to the practical. If they pass the practical, we will give them another chance at the written," Dela Peña said.

Dunn Celestiano, a computer programmer at the DOST central office, said he expects many teachers to pass the certification exam, as long as they openly embrace the new system.

"Dapat, open sila sa changes na nangyari. Dapat, meron din silang kahit konting kaalaman lang sa IT," he said, adding that operating the poll machines is very easy.

After the training for DOST personnel, Comelec field personnel like election officers and assistants will be trained from Monday to Wednesday next week on poll machine operation, election day procedures, and the consolidated counting and canvassing system.

Dioneda said this is crucial because they will be the ones to train the BEIs beginning March 1. -- by Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News