Comelec starts bidding for 2025 polls vote transmission services

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday opened the bidding for the Secure Electronic Transmission Services (SETS) for the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) results.

The SETS will use telecommunication networks and the procurement project will include establishment of data centers and connectivity requirements for the Automated Election System (AES) servers.

Four companies have purchased the bidding documents for the project, but only the joint venture of eBiZolution, Inc.-Secur Links Network and Technologies Inc.-Systems Information and Solutions Corporation and the joint venture of iOne Resources, Inc. and Ardent Networks, Inc. have formally submitted their offers to the Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) on AES.

Unlike in the previous automated election system, Comelec has decided to contract services solely for the transmission of votes for the 2025 midterm polls.

Comelec spokesperson and SBAC vice chairman Rex Laudiangco said this is to provide checks and balances in the AES for 2025.

"Kasi ang tinitingnan po natin dito 'yung checks and balances ng sistema... Mache-check po natin dito 'yung capability ng isa't-isa, mababalanse natin kung tama o mali," Laudiangco told reporters in an interview.

(We want to look into the checks and balance of the system. We can check the capability and balance if it's right or wrong.)

"Kung matatandaan niyo 'yung automated counting machines (ACM), 'di ba, do'n pa lang sa presinto mache-check natin ang resulta dahil ilalabas isa-isa 'yung mga balota, 'di ba? So titignan po natin, sa pamamagitan ng transmission services, na kung pareho 'yung natransmit ni ACM do'n sa pinadaan nila sa pamamagitan ng SETS," he added.

(In the automated counting machines, we can already check the results in the voting precinct. Through the transmission services, we can see if those transmitted are the same with the use of SETS.)

With the procurement of the transmission services, Laudiangco explained that all board of canvassers will receive the same vote results at the same time.

"[Ito ay] magiging daan para mabato... 'yung electronic data results mula sa ating automated counting machines, papunta po sa consolidation and canvassing systems, papunta sa National Board of Canvassers, at doon po sa data centers," he said.

(This will allow the transmission of electronic data results from the automated counting machines going to the canvassing systems, the National Board of Canvassers, and data centers.)

"Tig-isa-isa na po tayo-- ang media, ang dominant majority party, ang dominant minority party, ang stakeholders, accredited citizens arms, at mismong Comelec... Sent to all, meaning hindi na dadaan sa isang server at makakatanggap tayong lahat," he added.

(The results will be transmitted to everyone. It will be sent to all not just a single server. All of us will get the results.)

Faster transmission of votes and lesser failure rate are expected with the procurement of transmission services and new ACMs, the Comelec spokesperson noted, adding that election watchdogs might benefit from this project.

Likewise, the Comelec would save "hundreds of millions" because of its decision to make transmission services separate from the procurement project for the AES itself, Laudiangco said.

Asked if the Comelec decided to procure separate services for vote transmission for the 2025 polls because of the concerns raised against the AES in the past elections, Laudiangco said the poll body only aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the conduct of the elections.

"Hindi naman po siguro dahil lang sa may experience na ganoon... Kaya lang po ine-enhance ng Comelec ang transparency, ine-enhance namin 'yung acountability pati na rin 'yung checks and balances," he said.

(It was not only because of that experience. Comelec wants to enhance transparency and accountability as well as checks and balances.)

Should the two joint ventures pass the eligibility checking of the Comelec SBAC, Laudiangco said both companies would still need to undergo the financial documents scrutiny.

If both companies pass the two initial requirements, the Comelec SBAC will choose the "lowest calculated bid."

But if only one of the joint ventures was able to pass the initial requirements, Laudiangco said this would be considered as the "single calculated bid."

A post-qualification evaluation will be conducted should their offer be approved by the Comelec SBAC. —VAL, GMA Integrated News