Ombudsman forms task force for automated polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Ombudsman has created a task force to monitor the procurement of ballot-counting machines for next year's automated elections. An article on the Ombudsman Web site said Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez appointed Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro as head of the body. In a two-page Office Order, Gutierrez said Task Force Poll Automation aims to “help the Commission on Elections in its mandate and authority to ensure the adoption and use of the most suitable technology" for the planned automation. The body’s duties include to observe procurement proceedings from bid submission to awarding of the contract; coordinate monitoring of contract implementation; submit periodic reports and actionable recommendations to the Ombudsman whenever appropriate; and perform such other functions in aid of Comelec for the poll automation procurement project. Under the Order, the task force was also tasked to request for bid documents including supplemental/bid documents, list of bidders who secured bid documents, list of participating bidders, minutes of proceedings by the Special Bids and Awards Committee, abstract of bids, and other documents “to ensure the faithful discharge" of their duties and responsibilities. The task force was created after Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said the 2010 polls will be fully automated, and a P11.3-billion supplemental budget was okayed for automated polls. For its part, the Comelec has started the bidding process for election technologies and will launch the training of election workers and personnel this year. - GMANews.TV