Comelec eyes local service provider for 2019 pollsMANILA, March 1 (PNA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will also be looking at local service provider for the 2019 midterm polls, aside from the possibility of using the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.
Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said the commission would want to listen to all concern whether they were international or local technology provider.
"What we want is to listen to stakeholders, look into all options, including at locally-produced equipment. If we are to look into all things being equal, then we should also patronize our own products,†this was Bautista's response to the question of Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo at the Voter Registration Awareness Caravan held at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) on Wednesday.
The Catholic prelate believed that it is the right time to give chance to a local technology provider to be tapped in the 2019 polls, thus, replacing Smartmatic International, which was the service provider of the 2010, 2013 and 2016 polls.
“We all know that Smartmatic’s stint has been marred by problems. Why are we always tied up to them? Hopefully, we look for other companies. We have many local talents we can tap as early as now,†he said.
Pabillo is convinced that allowing local technology firm will give the conduct of elections in the country more transparent.
“The Filipino ingenuity would be better and more transparent for our elections,†he added.
The hybrid polling system, Transparent Election System (Tapat), was presented before the Comelec for the 2016 polls, but it was not considered due to lack of enough time to try and test the system.
But, Bautista assured that they will be conducting extensive consultations as to technology they will use in the next elections.
“For now, we have yet to choose any system for the 2019 elections. What I can promise is we will have a consultation of stakeholders before the Comelec chooses the system we will use in the next elections,†he added.
Currently, the Comelec is conducting assessment of the PCOS machines to see if they can still be used in the next polls. (PNA)
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