Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has allocated over ₱465 million for the procurement of an internet voting system to be used for overseas voting in the 2025 midterm polls.
The Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) said the poll body set the approved budget for the contract (ABC) for the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) at ₱465,810,926.57. It also said the cost of the bid documents is ₱50,000.
Along with the ABC, the SBAC posted the bidding invitation for the project.
READ: Comelec hopes to increase overseas voting participation in 2025 polls through online voting
The SBAC set the pre-bid conference for prospective bidders on Jan. 25, 2 p.m. at the fourth floor of the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros.
The deadline for submission of bids is on Feb. 8, 9 a.m. at the SBAC Secretariat Office, while the opening of bids will be on the same day at 10:30 a.m. at the third floor of the Palacio del Gobernador.
In May 2023, the Comelec green-lighted electronic or online voting for overseas Filipinos for the 2025 elections. Republic Act No. 10590, or the Overseas Voting Act of 2013, authorizes the poll body to explore other modes of voting or systems using the automated election system.
The Comelec assured the public that there will be a transparency audit and that the system to be used will be secure.
The poll body has reminded overseas Filipinos to register to vote. Registration for overseas Filipinos began on Dec. 9, 2022 and will run until Sept. 30, 2024.
