Comelec to start contract negotiation with Miru Systems next week

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday the contract negotiation with the winning bidder South Korean firm Miru Systems for the vote counting machines for the 2025 national and local polls is expected to start next week. 

“Madami kasing pagu-usapan magmula sa pag-customize, magmula sa pagtatayo ng mga tinatawag nating repair hub sa bawat isang probinsya, 82 provinces lahat 'yan, tapos 'yung pag-print ng mga balota and such others. Siguro kasama na rin 'yung international certification, source code review, and iba pang aspeto na kinakailangan nakalagay lahat doon sa kontrata na pipirmahan ng Comelec at ng Miru Systems at ng kaniyang ka-joint venture,” poll chairman George Garcia said in an interview. 

(There is so much to discuss from customization, the construction of repair hubs in all 82 provinces, the printing of ballots, and others. This also includes the international certification, source code review, and other aspects that must be written in the contract to be signed by the Comelec and the Miru Systems and its joint venture.)

Garcia said the poll body aims to finish the contract within two weeks.

“Kung hindi magiging masyadong masalimuot ang ating contract negotiation at sana matapos natin ng dalawang linggo lamang upang pagkatapos na pagkatapos noon, makapagpirmahan na tayo ng kontrata at pagkatapos magkakaroon na tayo ng Notice to Proceed na tinatawag upang masimulan na ang pagmanufacture ng ating mga makina,” he added. 

(If our contract negotiation will not get complicated, I hope we can finish it in two weeks so we can immediately sign the contract and have a Notice to Proceed to start manufacturing our machines.)

On Thursday, Comelec awarded the P17.99 billion vote-counting machine contract to Miru Systems. 

In an interview on GTV's Balitangali, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco clarified that the machines will leased to the Comelec.

“Una na po, kapag po tayo ay bumili ng makina, una sa lahat ay sa susunod na halalan, hindi natin masasabi kung 'yan pa rin 'yung latest technology. Pangalawa, uupa po tayo ng warehouse para itago 'yan. Kung kukuha tayo imbentaryo ng spare parts para ma-maintain ng usability, uupa tayo ng tao, magha-hire tayo ng tao na magme-maintain at higit sa lahat po, babayad pa po tayo ng premium ng insurance sa GSIS,” he explained. 

(First of all, when we buy a machine, we cannot say if it is still the latest technology in the next election. Second, we will rent a warehouse to store it. If we take inventory of spare parts to maintain usability, we will hire people, we will hire people to maintain, and above all, we will pay insurance premiums to GSIS.)

Lawmakers, election watchdogs, and other groups earlier expressed concern as they called on the Comelec to stay vigilant and review Miru's track record.

But, Miru Systems said the allegations of election failures due to its technology were false. 

Laudiangco noted that Comelec chairman Garcia had ordered the strict monitoring of everything in the post-qualification process and evaluation, including the performance of Miru in Congo, Argentina, and Iraq. 

“Nakakuha po ang Comelec ng mga dokumento na nagpapatunay mula sa mga bansang 'yan na 'yan po ay sinertipika nila, inaprubahan at tinanggap po 'yung kontrata at maayos pong naisagawa 'yung kanila pong kontrata sa eleksyon diyan. Sa katunayan nga po, sila po ay nabayaran din ng mga bansang 'yan sa kanilang kontrata.

(The Comelec has obtained documents from those countries that they certified, approved, and accepted the contract with MIru, and their election contract was executed properly there. Those countries also paid Miru.)

Miru is joined by Integrated Computer Systems St. Timothy Construction Corporation and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. in the joint venture for the Comelec procurement.

It was declared ineligible in the first round of bidding in December 2023 for failure to meet the legal requirements of the lease contract. Comelec special bids and awards committee conducted a second round of bidding, where Miru submitted new documents.

In January, Miru was deemed eligible to proceed with the bidding process after complying with all the legal and financial requirements for the project.—Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA Integrated News