The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will print out drivers’ licenses on paper because of the scarcity of plastic playing cards.
According to Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras,” some licensing workplaces like Pasay and Quezon City nonetheless have plastic playing cards however not sufficient for the hundreds who will apply for brand spanking new ones or renew their licenses within the months forward.
“By next week po siguro mag-isyu na kami ng temporary. Printed na lang po sa papel,” Pasay licensing workplace assistant chief Dexter Frane stated.
According to LTO chief Jayart Tugade, there are solely over 140,000 plastic playing cards nationwide. He stated his workplace estimated the obtainable playing cards is not going to be adequate to satisfy the demand. In December final 12 months, the LTO requested to acquire extra 5 million playing cards which is able to value P249 million.
In January 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) stating that it will be in control of the bidding for contracts whose quantity have been increased than P50 million. The LTO appealed the matter, however the DOTr turned it down.
“The procurement of the licenses, na-transfer sa DOTr. Had we been able to continue with our procurement activities, we would have sufficient plastic cards right now,” Tugade stated.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista responded, saying, “Dapat pinaplano ‘yan eh. Merong annual procurement plan dapat. ‘Yun ay dapat pinaplano. Hindi ‘yung ‘pag nauubos na saka lang mag-o-order.”
Bautista stated the DOTr took the accountability of procuring the plastic playing cards solely this March. He additionally defended the division’s coverage to instantly take cost of huge contracts.
“Itong policy na ito is ia-apply namin sa lahat ng sectors ng DOTr including government owned controlled corporations para magkaroon ng tamang control, ‘yung tamang approval process. Sa mga private companies mayroong level of authority ang bawat officers. ‘Yun ang mga gusto namin ma-imply,” he added.
Bautista stated that the DOTr would pace up the procurement of plastic playing cards for LTO’s use.
LTO stated the printed driver’s license may very well be used for example if there are violations.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
