MANILA, Philippines - Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) Corp. yesterday warned of more failed biddings and a possible delay in preparations for the May 2016 elections.
Cesar Flores, Smartmatic president for Asia, said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) can expect these scenarios until a contract for the lease of the optical mark reader (OMR) and direct recording electronic (DRE) devices are finally forged.
He said the declaration of a failed bidding could adversely affect the ongoing preparations for the 2016 national and local elections.
“We are concerned about the election preparation timelines,” Flores said, noting that the final number of voting machines is the basis of all other bids for the other components of the elections.
He said the bidding for the warehousing, logistics, transmission, ballot printing, and other matters necessary in the 2016 polls cannot start unless the OMR and DRE bids are concluded.