Comelec earmarks P14.5B for repair, purchase of machines

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allocated P14.58 billion for the refurbishment of the old precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and the purchase of more than 100,000 optical mark reader (OMR) machines that will be used in the 2016 polls, with the two contracts to be bid out at the same time.

“A total budgetary requirement of P14.58 billion has been approved for the simultaneous biddings,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez in a statement.

In a minute resolution, the poll body ruled to approve the conduct of a simultaneous bidding for the PCOS refurbishment and for the procurement, with option to purchase, of new OMRs, he said.

The Comelec law department in April recommended a parallel bidding “considering that time is of the essence due to the proximity of the May 9, 2016, national, local and ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) regional elections.”

According to a source, who declined to be named for lack of authority to speak on the matter, the P14.579 billion budgetary requirement included the P1.938 billion for the refurbishment of the PCOS machines.

The procurement of the new OMR machines, on the other hand, was divided into two lots—the first one for 23,000 OMR machines amounting to P3.094 billion and the second for 70,977 OMR units costing P9.547 billion.

The Comelec earlier said that one of its options was to refurbish the 81,000 PCOS it already had, to be supplemented by 23,000 new OMR machines.

The other option was for the poll body to lease 70,977 additional OMR units, to be combined with the 23,000 new OMR machines.

The Comelec earlier said that it intended to come up with a decision on which option to take by July or just before the contract is awarded to the winning bidder.

It has also required, as an additional requirement, “an undertaking by the bidder that it has no right or cause of action to compel the BAC (bids and awards committee) of this commission to award the contract to it, as it is the commission which has the authority to ascertain or decide what options to choose or award bearing in mind the course of action most advantageous to, and in the best interest of the government.”

Jimenez stressed that in coming up with its decision, the poll body has undertaken consultations with various stakeholders.

“The Comelec remains open to suggestions and alternative proposals on how to make the automated election system more transparent and how it can be further improved,” he said.

For the purpose of the parallel bidding, the (SBAC) to enable the Comelec to fast-track the bidding process.

The SBAC for the new machines will be chaired by Comelec Director Julio Thaddeus Hernan, with as vice chair Director Divina Blas-Perez, and lawyers Ma. Juana Valeza, Margaret Ching, and Roseller Abad as members.

The SBAC for the PCOS refurbishment, meanwhile, is to be chaired by Director Jubil Surmieda and vice chaired by Director Celia Romero, with John Rex Laudiangco, Sabino Mejarito and Ma. Agnes Carreon as members.