MANILA, Philippines — While efforts are being made to address problems regarding driver’s licenses, a transport group is urging Congress to investigate a contractor of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for its unresolved issues in the implementation of a project.
National Public Transport Coalition president Ariel Lim wants German contractor Dermalog probed for the failure of its Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) project, which disrupted LTO operations such as obtaining driver’s licenses and auto registration.
“We have already requested the Senate and the House to look into the failure of Dermalog to deliver the complete system because it is the cause of the recurring glitches in the LTO system,” he said.
According to Lim, Dermalog’s LTMS is a “complete failure, and was so disadvantageous to the government” since after 14 extensions and two-and-half years delay, Dermalog has yet to deliver in full the integrated system of the IT infrastructure.
The LTO paid an initial 80 percent of the P3.4 billion-LTMS project.
He said Dermalog’s non-compliance has resulted in delays in the processing of driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registration, bred more corruption and opened the door for the seamless registration of colorum (illegal) public transport and even carjacked vehicles.
“LTO’s processes are being adjusted to accommodate the functionalities of the new system. These adjustments show the contractor’s (Dermalog) lack of detailed study before developing the new system,” Lim pointed out.
He also observed that the agreed six-month delivery timeline of the IT system was still not met, adding that “more than four years since the December 2018 delivery date, the system is still not fully functional and fully rolled out.”
“Can the contractor explain the basis for developing the new system and why at this point, the LTO has hot yet been able to use the system it bought?” Lim asked.
Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera earlier filed Resolution 926 in the House of Representatives calling for an investigation on the shortage of plastic ID cards for driver’s licenses and alleged delays encountered in the procurement of the IDs.
“We want to know specifically and in detail where during the procurement process the Land Transportation Office keeps encountering problems over and over again,” the congresswoman from party-list Bagong Henerasyon said.
“We will welcome suggestions from the LTO and the Department of Transportation on what changes can be made to the procurement process by removing unnecessary documents and stages,” she said.
Herrera said the Anti-Red Tape Authority will also be invited to make sure they have given the House their inputs, findings and recommendations.
“We have confidence in the leadership of the LTO in the person of its chief, Assistant Secretary Jay Art Tugade with DOTr (Department of Transportation) Secretary Jaime Bautista at the helm,” the opposition legislator added.
“We’re aware the problem has its origins before he was appointed to the LTO and that he acted with dispatch upon learning of the problem. The reforms he has been implementing prove Assistant Secretary Tugade is a results-oriented reformer and manager,” she added.