MANILA: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has accepted the new Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) submitted by the remaining members of the Miru Systems Joint Venture. This joint venture is responsible for providing the automated election system (AES) for the upcoming midterm polls next year.
According to Philippines News Agency, the acceptance was confirmed through Minute Resolution 24-0856, where the Comelec en banc acknowledged the NFCC submitted by South Korean firm Miru Systems and its local partners, Integrated Computer Systems (ICS) and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. (CPSTI). The Comelec en banc declared the submission as adequate. The resolution, dated October 22 and released publicly on Wednesday, indicates that the NFCC submitted by the partners is in compliance with the directive set forth in Minute Resolution No. 24-0878 on October 4, 2024.
The NFCC’s acceptance hinged on the poll body’s assessment that the new amount of PHP19.25 million surpasses the project’s contract pric
e of PHP17.98 million. This financial capacity was deemed sufficient by the Law Department, as stated by PMO head, Director Ester Villaflor-Roxas, in her memorandum to the Comelec en banc.
The move to submit a new NFCC came after St. Timothy’s Construction Co. (STCC) withdrew from the joint venture, necessitating the remaining partners of the Miru Joint Venture to replace the NFCC. Comelec chairman George Garcia has indicated that the commission is also considering legal actions against officials of STCC. They are currently conducting a study on the potential criminal, civil, and administrative liabilities resulting from STCC’s withdrawal from the consortium.