Comelec, Miru ink contract for 2025 automated poll system ---- By HANA BORDEY, GMA Integrated News

The Commission on Elections and South Korean company Miru Systems Company Limited on Monday signed the contract for the procurement of a new automated election system (AES) for the 2025 national and local elections. The P17.99-billion contract will cover around 110,000 machines and peripherals including ballot boxes, laptops, and other printing requirements for the 2025 elections. Miru is joined by Integrated Computer Systems and St. Timothy Construction Corporation and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. in the joint venture for the Comelec procurement. The signing was led by Comelec Chairman George Garcia, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay, and Miru President Chung Jin Bok. This came more than two weeks after Comelec announced that it awarded the contract to Miru, the lone bidder for the procurement. Lawmakers, election watchdogs, and other groups earlier expressed concern and called on the Comelec to stay vigilant and review Miru's track record. But, Miru Systems said the allegations of election failures due to its technology were false. It was declared ineligible in the first round of bidding in December 2023 for its failure to meet the legal requirements of the lease contract. Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee conducted a second round of bidding where Miru submitted new documents. In January, Miru was deemed eligible to proceed with the bidding process after complying with all the legal and financial requirements for the project.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

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