MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has sold at least 81,000 unserviceable Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines for more than PHP12 million.

In a resolution made public Friday, the Comelec en banc adopted the recommendation of its Disposal Committee through a memoramdum dated Dec. 18, to award the sale to Microsphere System Technology, which submitted the highest financial proposal of PHP12.264 million for the 81,776 units of PCOS machines.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the private company submitted the highest auction at PHP12.26 million.

He said 20 companies bought auction documents, eight of them have submitted their auction bids while one was disqualified.

On the other hand, the poll body also approved the sale of the PCOS/VCM plastic bins with cover, yellow metal ballot boxes, and plastic pallets to the RHT Storage Center for PHP202,800.

“The Commission, after due deliberation, Resolved, as it hereby Resolves, to Adopt the recommendations of the Comelec Disposal Committee in the hereto attached and forming integral part hereof, CDC Resolution No. 03-2024 on the sale of unserviceable PCOS Machines, PCOS/VCM plastic bins with cover, yellow metal ballot boxes, and plastic pallets of the Commission located at the SMED Building (PhilPost), Port Area, Manila, Sta. Rosa, Laguna warehouse and at the Office of the Election Officer – Las Piñas City,” it said.

Both companies have 30 days to pull out the sold items from the SMED Building (PHLPost), Port Area, Manila; and the Sta. Rosa, Laguna warehouse and at the Office of the Election Officer – Las Piñas City, upon receipt of the Notice of Award.

The Comelec en banc also authorized the Office of the Executive Director to sign the Notice of Award and Clearance to Proceed for the disposal.

The PCOS machines were last used in the 2013 midterm polls. It was first used during the May 2010 presidential polls to automate the electoral exercises in the country as provided by Republic Act 9369 or the Poll Automation Law.

It was replaced by the vote counting machines (VCMs), introduced in the 2016 elections. (PNA)