Smartmatic-TIM gives assurance of 2010 polls' success

Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM), which won the contract to supply voting machines, assured that it is doing its part in ensuring that the Philippines’ very first automated elections will be successful. Netherlands-based firm Smartmatic is unable to operate without a local joint venture partner, in this case, the TIM. For joint venture partnerships, the law allows foreigners to bid for projects provided they have local partners representing 60 per cent of the project. But reports reaching GMANews.TV said that TIM sent a letter to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Jose Melo and the poll body law department, saying that it does not know the status of the implementation of the joint venture. However, TIM media officer Babes Dimalanta told GMANews.TV in a text message that "no such letter" existed. She added that Smartmatic and TIM continue to be in good terms. She refused to elaborate. Comelec law department head Ferdinand Rafanan and Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, who heads the Comelec steering committee on poll automation, also confirmed with GMANews.TV that there wasn't any letter. Larrazabal also noted that representatives from TIM are briefed on the automation project every Friday during the steering committee meetings. "The steering committee discuss(es) updates on the automation so alam nila (they know)... they have been updated, and they are being updated," he said. Smartmatic spokesman Gene Gregorio likewise said that it was unlikely that TIM was not updated on the progress of the project. "They are full partners because every project decision made by the consortium is discussed and decided by the board," he told GMANews.TV in a text message. Smartmatic International Corp. (Smartmatic) is a subsidiary of Smartmatic International Holding, BV, a company organized under the laws of The Netherlands. Smartmatic has organized elections using its electronic voting solutions in Latin America, the Carribean, the United States, and Asia. On the other hand, Total Information Management Corporation (TIM) is a domestic corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission since 1981. The corporation is engaged in the business of information technology and service provider. The two corporations entered into a joint venture on April 23, 2009, which later secured the P7.2 billion automation project on June 9, 2009. Smartmatic International Corp. teamed up with Strategic Alliance Holdings Inc. (SAHI) in 2008 for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao election automation project. SAHI partnered with another firm, Indra Sistemas, and competed against Smartmatic-TIM for the 2010 election automation project bid. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV