Comelec exec: Automation will push through in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The chief of the information office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) says nothing can stop the automation of the presidential polls next year. Lawyer James Jimenez, who heads the Comelec’s Education and Information Division, told reporters at the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt in Quezon that there would be a winner among the bidders for the supply of the biometric and electronic election equipment for use in the coming polls. Jimenez said that in spite of the issues raised concerning the supply contract for the P11.3 billion project, automation would push through. “There will be a winner," he said, even if he admitted no one knows at this time which company it would be. Poll automation of the coming elections is mandated by Republic Act 9369 and the Comelec is duty-bound to implement it. Jimenez explained that the winning company for the supply of the counting machines, biometric equipment and other appurtenances is expected to follow the revised schedule for the delivery of the equipment between October 1 and December 30, with the testing to be undertaken from November 12 to February 12, 2010. He revealed that the electronic equipment for the aborted automation deal with Mega Pacific are still stored by the Comelec, which spends P3 million annually for the unused gear. - GMANews.TV