Something for Mar to do

According to Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief and assistant secretary Virginia Torres, the long overdue bidding for the P500-million contract to supply drivers’ license cards to the agency cannot resume yet due to the injunction case at the QC RTC.

It will be recalled the court has ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) not to proceed with bidding out the contract since it violates the government procurement law (Republic Act No. 9184).

It was former Transportation Secretary Ping de Jesus who instructed the DOTC special bids and awards committee to take over the bidding for the driver’s license after some bidders alleged that the terms of reference (TOR) created by the LTO bids and awards committee (BAC) was “tailor-made” to fit the qualifications of particular bidders.

But in a June 21, 2011 memorandum, the DOTC directed the LTO BAC to resume the bidding, guided by the TOR for the project as revised by the DOTC.

But Torres said that the injunction prohibits the DOTC and LTO from proceeding with the bidding until the court formally returns the bidding to the LTO.

Amalgamated Motors Philippines Inc. (AMPI) continues to supply driver’s license cards to the agency based on a “quantum merit” basis, even though its contract has expired seven years ago, due to the injunction against the DOTC.

Meanwhile, the problems and issues that beset the current driver’s license system continues As brought up a number of times to the LTO management, the cards being supplied by AMPI are claimed to be inferior in quality: ie., pictures fading, printed information disappearing or illegible, cards cracking or splitting, and laminates easily peeling off.

As reported, Torres will ask the Office of the Solicitor General for its legal opinion as to whether or not LTO can proceed with the bidding and that the LTO chief is hopeful to get the green light.

It would be to the benefit of the general public if Torres can mandate or issue a directive to AMPI to improve the license cards. After all, AMPI has been enjoying the benefits of the uncertain situation for some time now. The LTO chief can also instruct the LTO BAC to look into this matter and implement whatever is necessary for the good of the public.

As for Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, he should include this matter as one of his priorities, if he wants to start his administration of the DOTC and LTO on a high note.

FPIC rehab plan continues

The original structural engineer of West Tower has come forward to, once and for all, confirm that the condominium can be made livable and safe, if not good as new, after the completion of the rehabilitation program currently being undertaken by First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC).

The building’s engineer-on-record Jose Sy, whose company Sy^2 Associates is the leading structural consultancy firm in the country, said that the building can be sealed off from the water that flows into its basements to eliminate the odor that is coming from the petroleum tainted water.

FPIC earlier said that recent tests showed that this water intake still has traces of the leaked fuel products at barely one percent of its total volume.

According to Sy, West Tower, the tallest building with the deepest basement this side of Bangkal, Makati, is built on an area where the water table is relatively higher. Thus, to protect basement walls and foundation from being overstressed by pressure from both the soil and groundwater, the building was designed to let water flow into the basements through back drains and into pipes connected to the basement 4 sump pit. The water collected is then pumped out and discharged into street drains.

With the accidental petroleum leak, however, the water can no longer be discharged to the city sewers. Till then, water will continue to be pumped and manually hauled and treated out of the basements by FPIC’s trucking contractors.

Tapped by FPIC to help out in West Tower’s rehab, Sy suggested the sealing of the building from the groundwater by closing the main pipe leading to the sump pit. To subsequently address the resulting stronger hydrostatic pressure, double walling and anchor, which will only take three to four months to put in place, will done. It will also address the old walls’ latent cracks where water seeps into, that is, with or without the petroleum leak.

Sy,  just like the other unit owners at West Tower who did not join the 67 plaintiffs to the P2.2 billion civil case against FPIC, availed of FPIC’s financial package consisting of the opportunity loss from rental income from his units and the amount of association dues, plus additional goodwill money.

FPIC’s rehabilitation efforts have been progressing well. FPIC was already able to power up West Tower’s common areas. The Makati Bureau of Fire Protection has also performed the necessary fire safety inspection at the basement. FPIC has also done tests for the sealing of basement walls from the water.

From the readers

“Last week, I addressed the employees of the National Printing Office to emphasize the following points:

1 - There is no ‘impending merging of NPO and APO.’

2 - There is no plan on the purported “abolition” of NPO.

3 - We are harmonizing the operations of NPO and APO so that these two recognized government printers can perform their responsibilities in accordance with the Procurement Act and the General Appropriations Act.

“I pointed out that Government intends to strengthen the NPO by modernizing its facilities.  When we assumed office last year, we were confronted by the fact that the NPO’s facilities are worn-down, thereby greatly reducing its capability to perform its primary mandate. NPO has resorted to subcontracting of printing jobs.

“Even before the recent enactment of the GOCC Governance Act, we stopped the practice of paying excessively high salaries to APO directors. We also stopped the practice of directors holding concurrent executive positions that  also entitled them previously to additional compensation.

“We are now in the process of improving the operations and management of both organizations in the interest of heightened effectiveness in public service.

“We trust that you will provide us an opportunity to present our position to your readers.  Thank you.” – Sonny Coloma, Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office.

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