Comelec: Poll automation contract to be awarded by end of May

MANILA, Philippines – Intent on shifting poll automation to full gear, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said that it is set to award to a bidder the computerization contract by end of May. In an interview on dzBB radio, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that so far, there has been no delay in the timetable of the poll body’s Special Bids and Awards Committee, which screens the bidders for the contract to automate the 2010 elections. “We hope to award by the end of May. By some time next week, ready nang gumawa ng recommendation ang Special Bids and Awards Committee [the SBAC might release a recommendation by next week]," Jimenez said. Jimenez’s statement came after the committee last Saturday opened the financial bids of the consortium of Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM) and the consortium of Indra Sistemas, Hart Intercivic, and Strategic Alliance Holdings Inc. (SAHI). After being disqualified in the first round, the consortium of Gilat and F.F. Cruz and Co. Inc. and the consortium of AMA Group of Companies and Election System and Software have submitted their motions for reconsideration, Jimenez said. He added that within seven days, the poll body would decide on Gilat and AMA’s appeal to determine whether they could join Smartmatic and Indra in the next round. The four consortiums, along with three others, were initially disqualified by Comelec for varying reasons. All seven bidders submitted their motions for reconsideration but only four were approved by the poll body. Assuming that the Comelec would reject Gilat and AMA anew, it would be a head-to-head battle between Smartmatic and Indra. In Monday’s interview, Jimenez likewise reiterated that the Comelec is pulling out all stops to fully automate the May 2010 elections. “Sisikapin namin na ‘di madi-disappoint ang mga umaasa na ma-automate nationwide [We are doing everything to automate the next elections so as not to disappoint those who pin their hopes on us]," he said. This was despite fears that there might be a “no-elections" scenario because losing bidders might protest their loss and ask for a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court. If approved, the poll body would be left with no time to shift to manual elections. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV