(CNN Philippines) — Many motorists are still waiting to get their license plates, which the Land Transportation Office (LTO) blames on a shortage of plates.
On Thursday (May 21), the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee and the Committee on Public Services started a probe into alleged irregularities in the bidding of motor vehicle plates by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The subcommittee tackled several issues.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto questioned the LTO on why all the plate numbers and not just the new ones have to be renewed.
DOTC Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan, who is also the LTO chief, said the program was meant to standardize the license plate numbers and ensure that identification would be easier. It was never meant to reduce traffic, he said.
He added that, under the program, vehicle owners would end up paying P3 billion, which would go to the National Treasury.
Recto also touched on the alleged irregularities of the bidding process.
He said a bidding was done in 2013 with a budget of P187 million. But the project was bid out at P3.8 billion.
DOTC Undersecretary Jose Lotilla explained that there was enough appropriation to fill the budget.
A private bidder also questioned why the LTO charged him an additional P50 for the new licence’s sticker.
There’s been an increased demand in plates since the LTO implemented the “no registration, no travel” policy on April 1.
