The OQC Flowchart for the 2001 Elections

OQC Committee

Several months prior to the elections, an OQC Committee was created to oversee the conduct of the count. This committee headed by Augusto Lagman determined and provided the software and hardware requirements, volunteer skills and manpower requirements for the conduct of the OQC at the national tabulation center and at the different municipal or city tabulation centers. It was also tasked to set-up the mode of transport or transmission of election results from each city or municipality in the province and from the province to the National Tabulation Center in Manila The committee has the following subcommittees under it namely: OQC Systems and Manpower Subcommittee, Communications Convergence Subcommittee, Printing and Shipping Subcommittee and the National Tabulation Center Subcommittee.

OQC Program

In tabulating the results, Namfrel’s chapters employed either manual or computerized tabulation for its Quick Count. A number of chapters that undertook computerized tabulation utilized the OQC software developed by Namfrel Muntinlupa OQC team. The team composed of Integrated Microelectronics’ MIS personnel headed by Juan Pasiliao, Jr. and Chin Sam Go, provided both OQC software and technical support to Namfrel’s various chapters for the duration of the OQC operations.

There were also a few chapters that developed and opted to use their own OQC software while the rest of the chapters manually tabulated the election results using forms issued by the national headquarters.

For the National Tabulation Center in La Salle Greenhills, a team of volunteers from Systems Standards, Inc. headed by Maidette Cornista, Alfonso Palpallatoc, Jr. and Larry Laraya developed the OQC software that consolidated the results from the field. This system was designed to accept both fax and e-mail transmissions of election results.

National Tabulation Center

The La Salle Greenhills Gymnasium has, since 1986, been the site of the national tabulation center for Namfrel’s OQC. It is here where volunteers receive OQC results from the field, verifies and consolidates the various reports before these are released to the public.

A few days before the elections, a team of volunteers headed by Louie Aguinaldo arranged the physical layout at the NTC. This team oversaw the installation of telephone lines and other communication facilities at the gym as well as the setting-up of computers and other equipment needed for the OQC.

Operations at the NTC would not have been possible without the volunteers who functioned as regional desk officers, systems encoders and support services staff. Around 400 volunteers, composed of students, professionals, members of the religious and representatives of Namfrel’s supporting organizations, working on eight-hour shifts volunteered at the NTC for the duration of the OQC.

Various companies, organizations and individuals have contributed to the cause of Namfrel by lending equipment and machines used at the NTC. Among the equipment and appliances that were lent to Namfrel were facsimile machines, photocopiers, PC units, servers, hubs, routers, UPS, modems, LCD projectors, printers, AVR, television units, optical transmitter, industrial fans, water dispensers and generator sets.

PLDT, Globe Telecoms, PT&T, Smart Communications and Contel provided telephone lines, mobile phones, and two-way radios. Supporting organizations of Namfrel also offered its services to the volunteers. Free internet access and e-mail services were provided by Mosaic Communications, I-Next Philippines and PLDT – all members of the Philippine Internet Service Organization. Members of the Philippine Nurses Association put-up a first-aid clinic in La Salle while blind masseuse from Videre offered their services to NTC volunteers.

Numerous individuals, companies, organizations, restaurants and food and beverage companies provided meals and refreshments to Namfrel volunteers in La Salle Greenhills.