Plastics driver's licenses delayed anew due to TRO

The availability of plastic driver's license cards will be delayed anew after the court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the Land Transportation Office (LTO) from receiving plastic cards from the winning bidder.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras," the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced in July that the supply of plastic card IDs is expected to be back to normal in September after the Banner Plasticard Inc. delivered an initial five thousand pieces.

However, the company was not able to deliver and has also stopped production due to the TRO of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215, ordering the LTO to temporarily stop the contract with the company.

This was after the losing bidder and the one with the lowest bid, AllCard Inc., filed a complaint.

The RTC also noted the LTO was not transparent or open about why AllCard was disqualified.

“Lahat ng transparency ginawa naman po,” LTO chief  Vigor Mendoza said. 

Meanwhile, the DOTr earlier said AllCard was disqualified due to delays in its other contracts with other government agencies.

LTO noted that it is expecting one million plastic cards in September.  Banner PlastiCard had already delivered 125,000 before the TRO was issued.

GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to AllCard for its side.

“Nalulungkot po kami sa naging desisyon sa korte pero ito po ay aming lubos na iginagalang,” said Arnel Babierra  of Banner PlastiCard Inc.

According to the LTO, although the TRO is only valid for twenty days, the agency will still ask the court to lift it as soon as possible.

“‘Yung kapalit nito is something even graver. We're talking about public interest, there is no basis for an injunction," Mendoza noted.

But if the court does not agree with the request, LTO stressed that the distribution of plastic driver's licenses will be delayed again.

The agency is also looking for alternative solutions, such as implementing an electronic license or engraving it with a note that its validity is extended.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News