Comelec opens bidding for deployment of 2025 election equipment, supplies

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has formally started the bidding process for the deployment of election equipment and paraphernalia for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE) and the Bangsamoro polls.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said on Friday the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) opened the bidding for the deployment of election equipment, peripherals, forms, supplies, and paraphernalia with the provision of warehousing services for the first time.

The project costs P1.7 billion.

“Itong project na ito, all in ito. Ito ang magde-deploy ng makina,  ballot box, balota, voter information sheet, mga posted and computerized voters list, pati lahat ng gagamitin na manual forms,” Laudiangco told reporters.

(This is an all in project. It covers the deployment of machines, ballot boxes, ballots, voter information sheets, posted and computerized voters' lists, as well as all the manual forms that will be used.)

“Ang kagandahan ng proyekto na ito, masasabi natin na point-to-point. Ang mga consignees ng ating mga kagamitan ay una mga custodian katulad ng automated election system (AES), ‘yung ACM ang tatanggap niyan ‘yung aming mga election officers, ‘yung balota…ang consignees treasury officers kaya di ‘yan dadaan sa Comelec…’Yung consolidation and canvassing system, board of canvassers tatanggap niyan,” he said.

(The good thing about the project is that it's point-to-point. The consignees of our equipment are primarily custodians, like the automated election system (AES). Our election officers will receive the ACMs. For the ballots, the treasury officers are the consignees, so they won't pass through the Comelec. The consolidation and canvassing system will be received by the board of canvassers.)

According to Laudiangco, winning bidders will be mandated to provide warehouses for the storage of the equipment. They will likewise be required to secure the infrastructure, and issue full disclosure on the persons behind the firms, as well as the owners of all third-party providers they will contract.

All equipment and hubs affiliated with any politician will be prohibited.

“‘Yung kanilang hubs [na] pagdadalhan, pag-iipunan, pagtatabihin ang baterya at makina na magkahiwalay na ide-deploy. Ang importante dun may sariling security. Nakaalam sa Comelec, alam namin kung saan ‘yung mga hub,” he said.

(Their hubs, where all equipment will be stored, should have their own security. The Comelec should know the locations of the warehouses.)

“‘Yung pagde-deploy by any transportation available dapat may tracking system na naka-connect kami sa internet. Gaya ng sinabi namin, di natin hahayaan na bibigay lang ang gamit at idedeliver. ‘Yan ay imo-monitor namin at sa areas na critical at may history ng eleciton-related violence, ine-escortan namin yan at laging may sumasamang Comelec personnel,” Laudiangco added.

(When deploying using any available transportation, it should have a tracking system connected to the internet. As we said, we won't just hand over the equipment and have it delivered. We will monitor it, especially in critical areas with a history of election-related violence, and we will escort them, always with Comelec personnel present.)

The Comelec plans to start the delivery of the deployment of the election equipment in March 2025. In case of a failure of bidding, Laudiangco said the poll body would call for a competitive public bidding for the contract.

“Magsisimula ang deployment probably by March,” he added.

(The deployment may start by March.)

The contract for the international certification of the Comelec system will still undergo bidding, the poll body added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News