No rift with LTO over P.5-B driver's license deal - DOTC

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus said yesterday there is no growing rift between him and Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres in connection with the DOTC’s takeover of the bidding for the P500-million driver’s license supply contract for 2011.

In yesterday’s press conference at the DOTC headquarters at the Columbia Tower in Mandaluyong City, De Jesus said his directive was issued only to ensure that the bidding was aboveboard and transparent and there was a level playing field for all bidders.

“There is no such thing (rift). The secretary does not have any rift with any of the people reporting to him,” De Jesus said.

De Jesus said there were numerous concerns raised regarding the bidding that the LTO was supposed to hold last September, wherein interested bidders said the specifications for the new driver’s license cards were allegedly tailor-made to favor a certain bidder. He had ordered Torres to defer the bidding.

Among the issues raised against the LTO then was Torres’ order to shift to paper-based license cards from the plastic cards currently issued. One of the provisions of the terms of reference (TORs) for the supply contract was that the cards were to be “paper-based” and “environment-friendly.”

Another provision the bidders claimed was highly irregular was one indicating specifications for the paper and printing requirements that tend to favor certain paper and printing suppliers.

LTO officials, who requested anonymity, said De Jesus’ move to create a DOTC special bids and awards committee to conduct the bidding shows the alleged rift between the DOTC and LTO officials, led by Torres, who they said was “personally handpicked” by President Aquino to lead the agency.

De Jesus had issued DOTC Order 36, last Oct. 27, where he ordered the creation of the special committee to be chaired by his head executive assistant, Assistant Secretary Ildefonso Patdu, Jr.

In the two-page department order, De Jesus said the special committee was specifically formed to oversee the conduct of the bidding for the driver’s license supply deal.