Korean firm lone Comelec bidder for 2025 polls
Laudiangco stressed that the Comelec could proceed with either a negotiated procurement or a third public bidding
Daily TribuneLaudiangco stressed that the Comelec could proceed with either a negotiated procurement or a third public bidding
071123jm10 Mr Marcelo Daniel Magana Coello of MIRU lead the conduct of the Internet Voting demonstration at the COMELEC building in Intramuros, Manila, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in relation to the 2025 national and local elections. says the use of the Internet for voting seeks to increase overseas voter turnout and require fewer expenses for the government. The new system of voting will first be introduced for overseas voters in the May 2025 polls....tribune photo by Joey Sanchez Mendoza
The joint venture led by South Korean firm Miru Systems Company Limited is still the lone bidder in the Commission on Elections second round of bidding on Monday for the procurement of the new automated election system for the upcoming 2025 midterm national and local elections after being declared as ineligible last bidding.
While Miru was the only firm that has submitted bids, the Special Bids and Awards Committee or SBAC confirmed that five more companies purchased bidding documents but did not submit bids.
These companies include Dominion Voting Systems, which acquired documents on 3 January, Indra Philippines Inc., 4 January, AMA Group Holdings Corp., 4 January and Smartmatic or SMMT-TIM 2016, Inc., 5 January, which was disqualified by the Comelec for the 2025 polls.
According to Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, the secretariat did not accept Smartmatic's bid and they have not received a temporary restraining order despite the service provider filing a petition to the Supreme Court.
"Smartmatic bought the bid documents, but earlier this morning, their representative intended to submit the bid tender. However, in accordance with the Commission on En Banc's decision on election matters, the secretariat did not accept the bid tender. Additionally, the Comelec did not receive any temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction from the Supreme Court," Laudiangco said.
When asked what process would be done if the lone bidder fails to meet SBAC's requirements, Laudiangco stressed that the Comelec could proceed with either a negotiated procurement or a third public bidding.
