SMS Global, Sequent joint venture bags overseas voting contract

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has awarded the contract for the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) project for overseas voting for the May 2025 midterm polls to the joint venture of SMS Global Technologies, Inc. and Sequent Tech.

In a resolution, the Commission en banc approved the recommendation of the Special Bids and Awards Committee - Automated Election System for the midterm polls, during Wednesday's hybrid executive session to award the PHP465.8 million contract to the company during second bidding.

The joint venture of SMS Global Technologies, Inc. and Sequent Tech. was earlier declared as having the lowest calculated and responsive bid of PHP112 million.

Once the project has been awarded, the poll body will be able to save a total of PHP353.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has directed the company to submit a Supply and Delivery Management Plan within 10 calendar days upon the receipt of the Notice of Award, which will be signed by Comelec chairperson George Garcia.

The OVCS will be the primary method of voting for registered Filipinos living or working abroad.

Meanwhile, some areas would still use the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) for personal and postal voting. 

The poll body said voters who would use the OVCS would only be provided with one precinct for countries with only one foreign service post, regardless of the number of registered overseas voters. 

For foreign service posts with multiple countries or jurisdictions, one precinct will be established per country regardless of the number of voters.

For countries with multiple foreign service posts, each post would have one precinct regardless of the number of Filipino voters.

Voters abroad have a month to cast their votes until May 12, 2025, the actual election day in the Philippines. (PNA)