Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera filed a resolution seeking to investigate the shortage of plastic cards for driver’s license in all Land Transportation Office branches.
According to House Resolution No. 926, the proposed investigation at the lower chamber also seeks to “determine the root cause of the delay in the procurement, and to identify measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.”
“Resolved furthermore, that the investigation also seeks to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing procurement rules and regulations to ensure that they do not unduly impede the provision of essential services to the public,” it added.
The LTO earlier announced that it will temporarily print driver’s licenses on paper as it runs out of plastic cards.
It said a special order by the Department of Transportation last January 25stopped the supply purchase as all procurement activities worth over P50 million must pass through the transportation department’s central office.
But the DOTr said it is working to purchase part of the total volume needed by the LTO pending the evaluation by the Bids and Awards Committee of the terms of reference submitted in March.
“The shortage of driver’s license cards will certainly cause more inconvenience to drivers who need to present these cards as a valid identification document when conducting transactions such as opening bank accounts, applying for loans, or even in minor transactions such as purchasing items on credit,” the resolution read.
The resolution also pointed out that the issue can also lead to “potential legal problems for drivers who are unable to present valid identification documents during traffic violations or other legal proceedings.”
Meanwhile, LTO chief Jay Tugade welcomed the proposed House investigation.
