The remaining group in the poll automation bidding has “virtually” bagged the P11.2-billion contract to supply machines in the country’s first computerized elections next year, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) special bids and awards committee.
Ferdinand T. Rafanan, committee chairman, told reporters yesterday that they have prepared a recommendation for the winning bidder.
He said Total Information Management/Smartmatic has met all the criteria. “Virtually, they are already the winner. It’s just our signature missing in the recommendation to the [Comelec] en banc,” he said.
The en banc is expected to announce its decision “in one or two days or in a week,” he added.
Mr. Rafanan said he is not aware of grounds to reject the bid of Smartmatic.
In its bidding document, Smartmatic proposed P7.2 billion for the machines.
The losing bidders were Avante International, Indra Elections Consortium, AMA Group of Companies/Election Systems and Software, Universal Storefront Services/Sequoia, Gilat/F. F. Cruz and Co., Inc., and Amalgamated Motors Philippines/Syrex.
Oversight hearing
Meanwhile, a congressional oversight panel will conduct a hearing after the Comelec has awarded the contract to determine safeguards to be instituted by the winning bidder.
Senator Francis Joseph G. Escudero, Senate panel chairman of the joint congressional oversight committee on automated election system, yesterday said the congressional panel should be assured of Smartmatic’s safeguards, including those against hacking.
“We will hear all the complaints to clear the doubts in the contract,” he told reporters in a chance interview.
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