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Smartmatic bags P11.3-B poll automation contract


MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has awarded the P11.3-billion contract for the controversy-tainted poll automation project to the consortium of Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM). Smartmatic will supply the 82,500 voting machines for next year’s first automated elections on a nationwide scale. In a two-page resolution, the commission en banc under Chairman Jose Melo adopted the recommendation of the controversy tainted Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) that was submitted last June 3, 2009. “After due deliberation, the Commission resolved to approve the report/recommendation of the SBAC dated June 3, 2009 confirming TIM/Smartmatic as the bidder with the lowest calculated responsive bid and to award the contract for the automation of the elections on May 10, 2010 to the said joint venture," the order said. The order also directed SBAC to issue the notice of award to TIM/Smartmatic so that it could start manufacturing the machines that would be used in the elections. “After this resolution, the SBAC is set to issue the notice of award before they can start the manufacturing of the machines," Melo told reporters in an interview. After receiving the notice of award, TIM/Smartmatic will submit to Comelec a performance security or bond in the form of a manager's check worth at least five percent of its winning bid to ensure that the bidder will perform according to contract terms and provision of machines. Melo said that their decision in adopting the recommendations of the SBAC was also premised on the reports and endorsements made by the bidding observers, namely the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the Office of the Ombudsman. “Their reports were 100 percent endorsement of the SBAC recommendations awarding the contract to Smartmatic/TIM," he said. Controversy Smartmatic and the Comelec Special Bid and Awards Committee (SBAC) became embroiled in controversy late last month following allegations that SBAC received a bribe from the consortium, the sole qualifier in the race to bag poll automation contract. On May 28, glitches marred Smartmatic's first day of demonstration. This prompted critics to spread text messages insinuating that bribery took place, allegations that were denied and apparently not considered in the decision to award the contract to Smartmatic. Not foolproof There is yet no assurance that the automated poll machines the Comelec hope to use for the 2010 election will be foolproof, said Ferdinand Rafanan, chair of Comelec's bids and awards committee. Rafanan said he is banking on a vigilant citizenry to make up for whatever shortcomings the machines may have. “Nothing is fool-proof … and we are not looking for a fool-proof machine," Rafanan said. But he added that “the best defense against manipulations of the automated machines are the people. We could still use the people... the people are still useful." - GMANews.TV
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