AUTOMATED VOTING | Comelec declares failure of bidding due to lone bidder’s document deficiencies

December 15, 2023 , 01:39 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(December 15, 2023) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday declared a failure of bidding for its automated voting system project due to the lone bidder’s non-compliance with the requirements under the law.

Comelec spokesperson Atty. Rex Laudiangco said Miru Systems Co. Ltd., which entered into a joint venture with three Philippine companies, was rendered ineligible following the technical lapses in the documents it submitted to the agency’s special bids and awards committee on automated election system.

The South Korea-based company had a joint venture with Integrated Computer Systems, St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies Inc.

“‘Yung kanilang undertaking or promise to comply with obligations ay dapat nakalagay ‘jointly and severally liable.’ Unfortunately, ang nilagay lang nila under oath ay ‘jointly liable,’ which is not sufficient,” explained Laudiangco on One News’ The Big Story.

He said the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act provide for this requirement.

Aside from this, Laudiangco noted that the lack of official English translation of the documents supporting the company’s statement of single largest completed contract should have been provided as well.

“‘Yung requirement ng law is absolute—if they are going to submit documents, if these are contained in foreign languages, dapat merong official interpretation into English,” added Laudiangco.

He said Miru Systems Co. Ltd. and the three other companies in the joint venture were already informed about the basis for their ineligibility. However, they can still join the second cycle of bidding once they resolve the deficiencies pointed out by the Comelec during the first round.

In compliance with RA 9184, the Comelec said the special bids and awards committee on automated election system held a mandatory review of the procurement project before starting another cycle of bidding.

Laudiangco said the second cycle may begin in the first week of January. He expressed hope that more companies will be able to join the bidding since they have more time to prepare the necessary documents.

Before the start of the first cycle, Laudiangco said other companies also expressed their interest in joining the bid but they were unable to submit the requirements. He added that Smartmatic also tried to join but the Comelec had already disqualified the controversial firm from its procurement activities.

Smartmatic sought a temporary restraining order before the Supreme Court to enjoin the Comelec from implementing its decision. But no injunctive relief has been released thus far.

Laudiangco said they aim to finish the awarding of the contract by the first quarter of next year followed by the start of production in the second quarter.

“‘Yung last quarter will be devoted to the field test and rolling out of the machines para maging familiar ang ating mga kababayan dito,” said Laudiangco.

(PM)

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