SC Oks P8.2 billion LTO IT project  

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the writ of preliminary injunction issued by a Quezon City court on the P8.2-billion information technology project of the Land Transportation Office, which includes driver’s license cards and the LTO’s online portal.

In a decision dated Sept. 5, the SC’s Second Division affirmed the Sept. 28, 2012 ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) that reversed the preliminary injunctions issued by Judge Afable Cajigal of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 96 in favor of prospective bidders Amalgamated Motors Philippines Inc. (AMPI) and Realtime Data Management Services Inc. (RDMSI).

The SC said it found “no substantial reasons to warrant a review of the assailed CA decision.”

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by AMPI and RDMSI after the LTO deferred the procurement of IT equipment due to a comprehensive review of the project’s terms of reference.

The LTO project had been suspended as then transportation secretary Jose de Jesus ordered a new invitation for bidding.

This prompted the RDMSI to request for a temporary restraining order, which was granted by the Quezon City court in 2011.

The AMPI also sought an injunction, which was granted by the lower court in 2012.

In its 2012 ruling, the appeals court said the AMPI and RDMSI “had no legal rights to seek an injunction” as mere bidders.

The AMPI and RDMSI questioned the CA ruling and elevated the case to the high court.

While the SC decision may allow the LTO to pursue the bidding for the project, the transport agency had entered into a P3.19-billion IT contract with German firm Dermalog.