Poll automation timetable threatened anew

An official from the joint venture of Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM) on Friday said it could not continue with the software customization of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines until the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finalized the official list of candidates as well as the number of registered voters in each precinct.

Cesar Flores, Smartmatic president for Southeast Asia, said the next few days would be “critical” for the automation firm as it awaits key information and contract from the poll body.

“We get into trouble. If we don’t receive that data we can’t finalize the software. It cannot be done a minute before,” Flores said, adding that the time for the configuration of some 82,200 PCOS machines that are set to be delivered in February is getting smaller.

Each PCOS machines will have to be configured with the exact number of registered voters per precinct as well as with the complete names of national and local candidates.

But until now, the poll body has yet to finalize the complete list of candidates because of appeals from numerous camps after the disqualification of a number of political aspirants.

Also, the extension of the registration period by the Supreme Court has delayed the process.

Smartmatic-TIM is also waiting for Comelec to sign a contract with Smartmatic Asia to start the production of the ballot boxes. Flores said the company is set to produce some 77,000 ballot boxes made of molded plastic. Each ballot box will cost P3,150.

The Smartmatic official said the contract must be signed next week or they will be forced to hire more manpower and add another production line to be able to produce the boxes on time.

He said some issues in the design of the ballots and the ballot boxes have delayed the signing of the contract, but stressed that Smartmatic-TIM will be able to produce the 82,200 PCOS machines by the end of February.

Flores said the company managed to produce “over 40,000” machines in their factory in Shanghai, China. However, the firm was able to deliver only 7,200 PCOS machines compared to the original 42,200 machines that were expected to arrive in the country before 2009 ends. –Bernice Camille V. Bauzon Reporter, Manila Times