3 forwarders hired for poll automation project

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has enlisted the services of three forwarding companies for the transportation of the materials that will be used in the May 10 automated elections. Comelec chairman Jose Melo said they have signed a contract with Germalin Enterprises, Ace Logistics, and Argo Forwarders to take charge of the transfer of the 82,200 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and ballot boxes and the more than 50 million ballots to the various provinces nationwide. “They are seasoned and experienced forwarders," Melo told reporters in an interview. Germalin will be in charge of the deliveries in the National Capital Region, Ace for the rest Luzon, and Argo for Visayas and Mindanao. Melo could not specifically say how much they are paying the three forwarders, but he said the cost of transportation of the ballot boxes is higher than their worth. In a text message to GMANews.TV, Smartmatic spokesman Gene Gregorio said that since the automation project is their undertaking, they will be paying the three firms. The Aboitiz-owned forwarder 2Go had earlier backed out of the project after critics slammed the Comelec for supposedly choosing a firm that is identified with the Arroyo administration. The poll body said that they would ship out the ballots and PCOS machines by mid-April. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV