computerwoche.de

Archiv

Council pushes for transparency in '10 election procurement

18.02.2009
The COMELEC Advisory Council (CAC) has submitted a recommendation to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on making the procurement of the election automation equipment for 2010 more transparent. This was announced by Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III, Chairman of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and Chairman of the CAC.

In its resolution dated 6 February 2009, the CAC recommended, among others, that the COMELEC publish all bids immediately after awarding; publish all Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) decisions; allow the public to participate as observers in BAC meetings; and prohibit BAC members from making any contact with any prospective bidders after the procurement process has commenced.

"The COMELEC Advisory Council is committed to working with the COMELEC in ensuring the transparency of the election automation procurement process," said Secretary Roxas-Chua, in an official statement. "With the procurement about to begin pending the approval of the supplemental budget, we hope the COMELEC will seriously consider our recommendations for immediate implementation to ensure clean, honest, and credible elections in 2010."

The CAC was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 9369, which provides for the creation of an inter-agency advisory body, chaired by the CICT Chairman, to recommend the most appropriate technology to be applied in the automated election system and to participate as non-voting members in the BAC, among others.