Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The House Committee on Metro Manila Development on Tuesday (July 14) questioned the continuous delays in the issuance of plate numbers.
But plate supplier, Power Plates Development Concepts Inc., was quick to defend that they’ve already delivered what has been ordered from them.
“Whatever that we delivered are only those that have been ordered from us, so we can’t deliver beyond those that have not been ordered from us,” Atty. Ron Salo. legal counsel of the company said.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO), on the other hand, said the plate supplier still has an outstanding balance.
“Percentage-wise sa new motor vehicle plates, naka-deliver na sila [ng] 73.92% from our requirements from January to June. Malaki pa rin naman ang balanse nila for delivery,” Maribel Salazar, chief of the LTO’s Administrative Division, said.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) explained that there are a lot of factors why many motorists haven’t gotten their plates yet.
One of the biggest factors was the adjustment of the delivery date in the contract. It said that the bidding started as early as 2013, but the delivery of plates only started in 2014, when the contract was signed.
“Nagkaroon ng delay because under [the] terms of bidding, there were supposed to be deliveries by 2013,” DOTC Undersecretary Jose Lotilla said.
“Kung napirmahan [ang] contract in 2013, nag-umpisa na ang deliveries by 2013. Kaso 2014 na-signed so na-push back yung deliveries,” he added.
Related: Senate scrutinizes ‘irregular’ bidding of LTO license plates
The chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo has ordered the LTO to submit a schedule of delivery and a list of the plates that have already been delivered.
