Only by end of May will we know for sure if the computerization of 2010 Philippine elections will be pushed through or not. This is the statement of Director Jaime Jimenez, Comelec director over a DWIZ radio program. He told the hosts, Jarius Bondoc and Marissa that the 7 bidders who applied were all disqualified during the hearing this week but have been given a chance to apply for reconsideration. Some of the reasons for disqualification were lack of necessary papers, among others. Rumors are rife though that the disqualification could be going towards two things: 1. go for a negotiated contract meaning to say there will be no more biddings to be done but only negotiations for the activity of computerizing the elections (which could also mean that this would be costlier than bidding it out); and 2. a return to manual voting and counting of ballots.
The bidding was observed by groups like the Transparency International, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or PPCRV, Procurement Watch, and the government agency, Commission on Audit.
Consequences of having no computerization are: 1. election cheating through miscounting or "dagdag-bawas" and 2. corollarily, installing fake officials; 3. more work for the judiciary to resolve election protests;AND 4. another era of repeated poor governance of public coffers and poor implementation of programs and projects for the poor, the marginalized and disadvantaged sectors of our society, especially the senior citizens, the children, women, and disabled.
by Wilhelmina S. Orozco with data culled from the RADIO PROGRAM: "SAPUL" hosted by Jarius Bondoc and Marissa, Saturday, 10 May 2009, aired between 8:15 to 9 a.m.
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