Villar says poll automation will not erase cheating

CEBU, Philippines - Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar is not so convinced that poll automation would eradicate cheating at the polls, like in the upcoming local and national elections next year.

Villar, who had announced his candidacy for president, said what the Commission on Elections should have done is to clean up the voters’ list before resorting to a full poll automation.

"Dapat talaga na linisin muna ang voters’ list…yan ang pinakamahalaga. But I have nothing against poll automation. However, the poll automation is not a guarantee na hindi ka na madadaya," Villar said in a press conference yesterday at Holiday Plaza hotel.

What the Comelec should do now, Villar said, is to conduct an intensive information dissemination campaign about the technology before the new system gets implemented next year.

Meanwhile, Comelec announced yesterday that the terms of reference and requests for proposals for bidders of automation equipment will be released today while the last day of purchasing the documents will be on March 25.

In a statement, Comelec Chairman Jose A.R. Melo said TOR/RFP -stacked inside 11 folders including all of its annexes - contains the Comelec’s policies, requirements and technical specifications, among others, that will help prospective bidders prepare responsive bids.

Melo said Comelec will hold a pre-bid conference on March 27 to give a chance for bidders to "raise questions or seek to clarify any matter" regarding the bidding process. 

The opening of all the bids will be conducted at the Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila on April 27, exactly a month after the pre-bid conference.

Melo emphasized the P1 million fee for the purchase of the TOR/RFP documents is non-refundable because "this requirement will separate the boys from the men, the serious from the jokers."

The Comelec is confident that the bidding will run smoothly and that automated elections will push through next year. –Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)