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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pimentel questions high rental rates of Comelec's proposed counting machines

Pimentel questions high rental rates of Comelec's proposed counting machines

Published Nov 23, 2023 01:14 am

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III expressed concern over the exorbitant rental rates for the so-called “modern automatic counting machines” (ACMs) that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeks to procure for the 2025 National and Local Elections.

“Under the proposed budget of the Comelec for the next fiscal year, a substantial portion amounting to P19.799 billion is allocated for the rental of these 127,740 ACMs, each costing P155,000 to lease, for the implementation of the 2025 midterm election,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said that the rental rate of P155,000 per ACM is excessively high, especially when considering the financial challenges faced by the government, including a huge budget deficit.

"To spend nearly P20 billion on the rental of automatic counting machines, with each machine costing P155,000 just to lease, is simply not wise, given our current financial situation," Pimentel said.

The Senate chief fiscalizer also questioned why the price tag ballooned to P155,000 per unit from P70,000 based on the previous pronouncement of the commission.

“Why did it balloon to P155,000 per unit when the Comelec said last year the rent would only be P70,000 per unit?” he asked.

Citing the earlier pronouncement made by Comelec both in the Senate and through various media outlets, Pimentel underscored that the commission had firmly set the rental price at P70,000 per unit just last year. Furthermore, he emphasized that Comelec had previously indicated a requirement for only 97,000 ACMs to facilitate the upcoming midterm elections.

“It suddenly increased by 121%. That’s quite a dramatic increase. I think Comelec has a lot of explaining to do,” he added.

Related Tags

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III Comelec Commission on Elections (Comelec)
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