Poll automation on as bid partners reconcile
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:44:00 07/03/2009
Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Computing & Information Technology
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that the winning bidders in the automation project have settled their dispute and would proceed with computerizing the polls in 2010.
Comelec chairman Jose Melo told reporters on Friday that Smartmatic and Total Information Management, partners in the consortium have ironed out their differences over the disbursement of payment and would submit the required incorporation papers for their joint venture ahead of the contract signing tentatively set next week.
Based on initial statements from Comelec, 60 percent of the total contract would be given to TIM and the rest to Smartmatic.
On Monday, TIM told Melo that it would withdraw from the project after “irreconcilable differences” with foreign partner Smartmatic.
