What Plan B? We have up to Plan D.

Thus said the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in reaction to calls for the poll body to come up with a "Plan B" should the ongoing bidding for the P11.3 billion poll automation project fails.

The poll body's Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) Chairman Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan disclosed that while critics are asking the COMELEC to prepare for a "Plan B"; they have, in fact, prepared and discussed contingency measures that are up to Plan D.

"Kung wala nang maga-grant sa mga motions for reconsideration at babagsak din ang Smartmatic, yan ang tinatawag nating failed bidding," Rafanan said.

Just last night, COMELEC's SBAC disqualified the consortium Indra Sistemas / SAHI and Hart Intercivic for its "non-compliance" with the COMELEC requirements, leaving Smartmatic /TIM the remaining consortium qualified to bid for the poll automation project.

Consortia AMA Group Holdings/ ES&S and Sequoia Voting Systems/USSC have earlier been disqualified by the SBAC. They have since filed their respective motions for reconsideration before the SBAC. Meanwhile, bidder Gilat Satellite Network/FF Cruz & Co. Inc. has until today to file their motion for reconsideration. The SBAC is expected to rule on said motions today, said Rafanan.

But in case none of the bidders qualify with the COMELEC's requirements, Rafanan said they are ready.

"We assure the public that the COMELEC is prepared for any eventuality. There are plans in place and the plans are up to plan D," declared Rafanan.

"We are still focused on full automation. We are still on track. Let us focus our minds there," he said. ###