Comelec: At least 5 firms expected to bid for new vote counting machine contract

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said that at least five companies will submit their bids for the P18 billion vote counting machine contract.

"There's five [expected to bid] but we wish there will be more than five because the more choices we have, the better for the Commission. You know, there is more available technology nowadays, especially on vote counting machines that we use," said Comelec chairperson George Garcia at the sidelines of the random manual audit on the recent barangay and sangguniang kabataan polls.

Likewise, Garcia said he has instructed the Special Bids and Awards Committee to simplify the bidding process rather than end up nitpicking.

"We told the Bids and Awards Committee, we appealed to them that when it comes to minor technicalities, it is something that they can set aside," Garcia said.

The Comelec earlier postponed the pre-bid conference for the 2025 vote counting machines since the Bids and Awards Committee are still “clarifying matters and answering initial queries from prospective bidders.” 

"What is important is we go for the substance, pursue what is favorable to the public at a reasonable price because of course, we will be using public funds for this," Garcia added.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News