Smartmatic opposes visit to warehouse

CITING impropriety, Smartmatic International opposed the requests of prospective bidders for the P112-million lease of warehouse project of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to visit their Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna.

According to the Bid Bulletin 1 of the Comelec–Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), there were some inquiries during the recently conducted pre-bid conference for the possibility of a visit in the warehouse.

“There was a comment of the representative of Smartmatic as to the propriety of the conduct of a site inspection at their warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna as well as its expression of concern on this matter in its letter on July 12,” said the BAC.

The recently purchased 81,280 PCOS units of the Comelec remain at the Cabuyao, Laguna warehouse of Smartmatic.

Subsequently, the Comelec en banc already directed its BAC to conduct a public bidding for a warehouse with configuration facilities that will be used to house the PCOS machines.

Smartmatic earlier expressed interest in bidding for all the poll related services in the forthcoming, including the warehousing facilities, among others.

Despite this, the Comelec assured there shall be no undue advantage in favor of Smartmatic during the public bidding process.

“There will be no undue advantage. All prospective bidders shall be equally subjected to the same Eligibility Requirements provided under the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184,” said the BAC.

This was in response to inquiries of several prospective bidders during the pre-bid conference if there could be any undue advantage or ethical consideration in qualifying Smartmatic to join the bidding considering that it has the same entity that supplied the PCOS machines.

Among the specifics sought by the Comelec is for the warehouse to have a lot area of at least 30,000 square meters and a floor area of at least 25,000 square meters.

It also sought for a 20 feet ceiling clearance, concrete floor, columns, and walls; with continuous water and power supply; with security personnel barracks, canteen, resting areas for employees, fire alarm system and closed-circuit television cameras. (HDT/Sunnex)