DOTr acquires own plate-making machines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has acquired its own machines for faster production of vehicle license plates, an official said yesterday.

The DOTr said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade inspected the seven manual embossing machines on Friday.

The machines delivered last February, are part of the contract of Trojan Computer Forms Manufacturing Corp. and JH. Tonnjes E.A.S.T. GmbH Joint Venture, which won the deal for the procurement of motor vehicle and motorcycle license plates to address the backlog from July 2016 and beyond.

While the contract stipulated only five manual plate-making machines, the contractor provided two more at no additional cost to the government.

The DOTr expects an automated embossing machine to be delivered in July, and be made operational by August this year.

“We do not want a repeat of the problem on license plates. That’s why it is better if we ourselves would manufacture than have it made abroad because that delays the process. With the proper equipment and training, we can do it,” Tugade said.

At full production, the seven manual embossing machines can produce 22,000 plates per day.

The automated embossing machine can manufacture 12,000 plates daily.