Comelec: It’s all systems go for 2010 poll automation

MANILA, Philippines – The dispute has ended. Smartmatic and its Filipino partner, Total Information Management (TIM), were able to iron out their differences over the control of funds for the P11.3-billion poll automation project after a three-hour meeting Friday.

"It’s a go for poll automation. Smartmatic and TIM are right now signing their joint venture incorporation papers," Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo told reporters.

By next Friday, July 10, after submitting their incorporation papers to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the companies are expected to sign the P7.2-billion contract with the Comelec, according to Melo.

The poll chairman said that as a joint venture entity, Smartmatic and TIM "will be held liable severally and jointly" if they fail to provide services in accordance with the contract.

The poll automation project was jeopardized earlier in the week after TIM president Jose Mari Antunez said his company would pull out of its partnership with the Barbados-based Smartmatic due to disagreements over how the money for the automation project would be controlled. The Comelec gave the two firms until Friday, July 3, to settle their differences.

"After one week of suspense and apprehension that we may be reverting to the manual system of election, we are now back to automation. We thank Smartmatic, TIM and the people behind those companies, as well as our supporters from Congress," Melo said.

In a joint press statement, Smartmatic and TIM reiterated their commitment to the automation project, but did not reveal how the dispute was settled.

“Both companies, fully aware that above all private concerns lies the desire of the Filipino people to expedite automated elections, maintain the agreements reached in April this year, and gladly announce to Comelec our continuation with the full automation of the elections in May 2010," according to the statement handed out by Cesar Flores, Smartmatic’s international sales director.

“We honor the commitment given to Comelec to continue with the project, for the benefit of the Philippines. We are already working with the majority of the Filipino people in their quest for automated elections and, together we will make this a successful project," it added.

GMANews.TV

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