Withdraw case, LTO chief asks losing bidder

MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II yesterday appealed to the losing plastic card bidder to withdraw the case it filed after a Quezon City court stopped the delivery of plastic driver’s licenses.

In a statement, Mendoza said that while the government is ready to go on a prolonged legal battle against Allcards, Inc., he decided to issue a plea for the losing bidder to allow winning bidder Banner Plasticard Inc. to proceed with the delivery of the plastic cards.

“On behalf of the millions of our clients, I personally extend my appeal to Allcards, Inc. not to pursue the case it filed anymore for the sake of the Filipino people who are at the core of both our mission and vision to have easier and convenient way of life through reliable technology platforms,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza has announced that the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215 issued a preliminary injunction on the implementation of the P240.1-million contract on the driver’s license plastic cards.

The production of plastic cards will be put on hold until the injunction is lifted, he added.

Mendoza noted that from the total backlog of 2.4 million driver’s licenses, the LTO was able to bring it down to 2.2 million after Banner Plasticard Inc. started to deliver the plastic cards.

He said the LTO plans to file an appeal before the Court of Appeals through the Office of the Solicitor General.

Mendoza said the LTO has requested the Department of Transportation to start a bidding process for 4.2 million cards “so that it can award the contract by January or late February so that our delivery would continue despite the injunction as this is a separate bidding.”