Fixing our transport, license woes

The decrepit owner-type jeepney in the middle of the muddy, labyrinthine patch of earth looked like it was going to fall apart. This vehicle traces its roots to the surplus military jeeps left behind by American forces after the end of the war. And true enough, the jeep in front of me looked as old as its history says it is.

The jeep must have been plucked out of the nearest junk shop just for the day’s test. But on that scorching day decades ago at the Land Transportation Office in Quezon City, I was determined to get a driver’s license so I drove the jeep for my driving test.

I felt like I was in a Mad Max movie as the jeep fit perfectly in that post-Apocalyptic desert wasteland filled with insane road machines. And just like in the Mad Max films, the vehicle moved to my surprise.

I managed to drive it successfully so I got my license that day. It wasn’t easy though. I was stressed and anxious that day.

License woes

I remember this experience as I think of the controversies now surrounding the driver’s license.

It’s never easy applying for a driver’s license, although things improved a bit during the time of president Duterte.

And yet now, the driver’s license is again an issue that is affecting motorists. I hope, for the public’s sake, these kinks will be ironed out.

It’s no secret that the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Office have pending issues related to the bidding of license cards and car plates, which led to a shortage.

Based on what I’ve read, I understand that Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista wants a transparent bidding process so that there wouldn’t be questions on “favored bidders,” a perennial problem in the bureaucracy.

Sec. Jimmy is correct in making sure that things are done right. We don’t want another Pharmally-like scandal.

I know that ever since he took over the Transportation portfolio, he has been trying to rid the department and the agencies under it of graft and corruption and other bureaucratic cobwebs.

For instance, he has been fixing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and it hasn’t been easy. It’s no surprise that we would hear of smear campaigns and sabotage attempts against Sec. Jimmy and his team.

Welcome to the Philippines, welcome to the world of dirty politics.

Going back to the issue on driver’s license and car plates, it’s good that both the DOTr and LTO have come up with solutions which I hope would solve the mess.

The DOTr is now exploring the possibility of engaging the services of other government agencies to supply the said plastic cards.

Due to the urgency of the need for license cards, Sec. Jimmy is talking to the National Printing Office (NPO) director on their technical capability to supply the cards.

The secretary is also looking into discussions with the APO Production Unit for the same purpose.

“The Central Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) will require further details before an agency-to-agency arrangement can be finalized through a Memorandum of Agreement, as required under existing laws, rules and regulations,” the DOTr said in a statement early this month.

But I hope that if this happens, there wouldn’t be questions on security, meaning these units would be able to incorporate the security features of the license cards.

These exploratory moves are in parallel to the ongoing competitive bidding for the procurement of driver’s license cards.

The Central BAC has an ongoing competitive bidding for the license cards, the DOTr said.

The LTO, for its part, is opting for an electronic version of the driver’s license, or digital license, which I believe is a practical move.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the digital license would serve as an electronic alternative to the physical driver’s license card and will be integrated into the “super app” under development by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Will these initiatives solve the shortage and address corruption issues? I truly hope so.

It takes political will to really rid our agencies of corruption; and of greed for money and power.

I hope our government officials would really have the grit and the guts to do this because at the end of the day, it is the Filipino taxpayers who are robbed of decent and efficient public service that we all deserve.

From the inbox

A retired economist, Teodoro M. Ela, has a suggestion on how to solve the rice problem in the country. He was formerly with the Ministry of Agriculture as undersecretary.

His son sent me an e-mail, which showed Ela’s suggestions way back in the 80s which Ela believes can still be applied today.

Ela believes it is important to institute a consumer subsidy program for the low-income consumers through “rice coupons.”

These may be given by “the government, employers, charitable organizations and philanthropists or sold to the consumers at discounts to be determined in accordance with the economic status of the consumers.”

Ela also believes that pricing is the key to addressing “the miserable income of rice farmers, the still low rice productivity and the wasteful consumption of rice.”

He said that the price at which palay is purchased and the price at which rice is sold to consumers must be responsive to the farmers’ needs so they continue producing rice.

There are indeed many ways we can address our rice problem – from helping farmers improve their productivity to providing post-harvest facilities.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.