Stradcom faction offers to return RFID fees

MANILA, Philippines –  A faction within Land Transportation Office’s information technology contractor, Stradcom Corp., promised yesterday to return fees collected from the LTO’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) program once it regains control of the agency’s IT facility.

LTO Assistant Undersecretary Virginia Torres has taken over the online operations of Stradcom after a corporate dispute erupted between two groups in the firm.

The RFID program was an anti-carjacking program implemented by the LTO and Stradcom that was put on hold after transport groups questioned its legality.

Lawyer Ver Samson, legal adviser of the Stradcom faction led by Aderito Yujuico and Bonifacio Sumbilla, said they have already filed a motion for reconsideration before the Quezon City regional trial court to restore their control of the IT facility.

They said as soon as the court grants their request to take over the facility, they would refund RFID fees to motorists and give government its share in the connectivity fee collected from the processing of driver’s license and motor vehicle registration.

The failed takeover of the Sumbilla group prompted the LTO to take over the facility to insure continued operations of LTO’s online services all over the country.

Last Thursday, Vince Dizon, vice president for corporate affairs under Cesar Quiambao’s group, dared the Sumbilla group to present documents to prove their claim over the company.

The Quiambao group also claimed that the documents presented by the Sumbilla group are fake and they have already filed cases against them.