LTO to rebid driver's license contract amid mounting complaints

MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will rebid the contract for the production of driver’s licenses in response to complaints that the existing ones are of poor quality and easily fade.

“We are set to schedule the bidding and whoever wins will get the contract for the production of the driver’s license card,” LTO chief Alberto Suansing told The STAR.

He said the Department of Transportation and Communications and the LTO are still preparing the terms of reference for the bidding. He said the current contractor, AMPI Mega Data, may join the bidding. AMPI has been doing business with the government for over a decade now.

Suansing said the replacement of substandard driver’s licenses has been his priority since he assumed office in February. He said the defective cards were produced in 2004 and 2005.

“The defective driver’s license cards were produced three years ago before I assumed my post,” he said.

Suansing ordered a review of LTO’s contract with AMPI after The STAR came out with a story last May 1 about the poor quality of driver’s license issued in the last three years.

Top government officials were reportedly among those issued defective driver’s licenses.

Suansing said LTO has issued a recall of all worn-out driver’s licenses to have them replaced with new ones for free.

“We are calling on drivers to return their defective driver’s license to the nearest LTO office where they can be issued new ones for free,” Suansing said.

But of course, it’s the taxpayers who will shoulder the cost of the “free” license.   – Perseus Echeminada