The Commission on Elections (Comelec) granted the maintenance
contract of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to
Smartmatic –Total Information Management (TIM) Corporation, the same
firm which provided the poll automation machines in the past two
elections, informed sources disclosed yesterday.
Smartmatic – TIM earlier extended to Comelec an extended warranty for the PCOS machines. “It was decided by the en banc to give the project to
Smartmatic-TIM,” the source said, adding that the decision of the en
banc is expected to be published this week.
According to the source, except for Commissioners Luie Guia and
Arthur Lim, all the other commissioners led by Comelec Chairman Sixto
Brillantes voted for the extended warranty.
Another source said the commissioners are also concerned that holding
a public bidding might affect the timetable of the preparations for the
2016 polls.
“We might not have enough time to prepare if there will be a bidding
since there is also the danger of a failed bidding,” said the source.
The source said the commissioners were also not convinced if their
Information and Technology Department (ITD) can do a better job than
Smartmatic-TIM in refurbishing the more than 80,000 PCOS machines.
“The commissioners have doubts as to the complete capability of the
ITD in refurbishing the PCOS machines. It’s too risky!” said the source.
Earlier, Smartmatic– Asia President Cesar Flores said it would be
very beneficial if the poll body will award the PCOS repair project to
them instead of holding a public bidding since they are the ones who
have the exclusive right to the machines including the parts.
“If you open this (refurbishing project) to other bidders, the other
bidders will try to (get) parts, which they cannot because we have
exclusivity on those parts,” he said.
The Comelec Law Department earlier already issued a legal opinion
saying the commission can just exercise the extended warranty provided
by Smartmatic if they can prove that they are the only ones that can
provide the necessary services to the PCOS machines.
