Three local companies have submitted their proposals to the Central Bids and Awards Committee of the Department of Transportation to become the new supplier of plastic cards used for printing driver’s licenses.

The Committee disclosed that All Card Inc., Peterjohn Enterprises and Banner Plasticard, Inc. participated in the ongoing competitive bidding for driver’s license card procurement. The deadline for submission ended on 24 May.

“With impartiality and transparency at the core, this event manifests a level-playing field where opportunities are being presented to those with the most innovative and compelling proposals,” the DoTr said, referring to the ceremonial opening of bid last Wednesday.

Backlash

To recall, the Land Transportation Office faced backlash after it ran out of plastic cards to print driver’s licenses, which forced the agency to print makeshift copies on paper. It was on top of the projection that license plate materials are likely to also run out by June.

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista reiterated that procurement should have been made by the LTO in August last year as it could have prevented the materials shortage and delayed release of licenses to motorists.

However, outgoing LTO chief Jay Art Tugade, on the other hand, attributed the problem to the DoTr’s issuance of an order that mandated all procurement activities worth over P50 million must pass through the central office.

Tugade was referring to a Department Order dated 28 February, which ruled out several functions from the MRT-3, DoTr Regional Offices in Cordillera Autonomous Region and Caraga, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Philippine Railways Institute.

With impartiality and transparency at the core, this event manifests a level-playing field where opportunities are being presented to those with the most innovative and compelling proposals.

Agency-to-agency procurement

To immediately resolve the plastic card shortage, the DoTr earlier said it may explore agency-to-agency procurement for the material supply.

Bautista previously said he has reached out to the National Printing Office and APO Production Unit on their technical capability to supply the cards.

APO Production Unit Inc. is a government-owned corporation that handles the printing of accountable forms and sensitive high-quality/volume printing jobs for Philippine agencies and offices.

But before the DoTr implements an agency-to-agency arrangement, there needs to be a memorandum of agreement, as required under existing laws, rules, and regulations.