Comelec eyes NTC help after failed bidding

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is planning to tap the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) after the bidding for the electronic transmission of results, described as a “highly critical” service, was declared a failure.

“If it were up to me, maybe we will not hold a re-bidding anymore. I may just talk to the NTC since it will be the telcos (telecommunications companies) that are the main concerns (here),” said Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes.

Yesterday, only one bidder, Blue Media Communications Inc., had submitted a bid for the electronic results transmission services (ERTS) using public telecommunication networks project, worth P405 million. The Comelec’s special bids and awards committee, however, found the firm ineligible after they failed to meet at least 10 bidding requirements.

Brillantes noted the Comelec will rely on the recommendations of the committee but they will propose not to re-bid again.

“We may be wasting our time if in case there will be a re-bidding and no one bids or there will be failure of bidding,” he added.

Brillantes said that tapping the NTC may be their final option.

“As much as possible, we want private companies and that’s why we are holding a bidding.  But we can always tap government agencies like NTC, the regulatory body of telcos,” he added.