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DOTr eyes NPO, APO services over driver’s license shortage

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

May 4, 2023, 9:23 pm

MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking at coordinating with two recognized government printers to produce driver’s license cards to stem the current shortage, with many drivers being issued paper licenses instead.

In a statement on Thursday, the DOTr said exploratory talks are ongoing with the National Printing Office (NPO) -- a government-run printer that produces government standard forms used in the collection of taxes, fees and others in the course of government transactions.

Sa ngayon ay nasa ‘exploratory stage’ ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng Kalihim sa NPO Director upang alamin ang mga posibleng mangyayari sakaling kunin ang serbisyo ng ahensya (For now, the discussion between DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista and the NPO Director are at the exploratory stage to find out whether we can avail of their service),” it said.

In addition, Bautista is also looking into coordinating with the APO Production Unit (APO) -- a government-owned and controlled corporation that is also a recognized government printer similar to the NPO.

Batay sa umiiral na mga batas at regulasyon, kailangan ng Central Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) ng karagdagang detalye bago isapinal ang ‘agency-to-agency arrangement’ sa pamamagitan ng Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) [Based on the prevailing laws and regulations the Central BAC needs more information before finalizing an ‘agency-to-agency arrangement’ through a MOA],” it said.

To date, it said the Central BAC is holding a “competitive bidding” for the procurement of these license cards, with the deadline set on May 24.

The Central BAC, it said, is also working with prospective bidders on any issues or comments on the terms of reference submitted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on March 21.

Earlier, the LTO announced it will be printing driver’s licenses on paper as it runs out of the necessary cards, with license plates for both motorcycles and motor vehicles also set to run out by June and July respectively.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade noted that the DOTr -- as head of procuring entity for these materials -- moved the submission of bids from April 24 to May 24, creating an additional delay.

On the other hand, Bautista responded that the LTO only began the procurement process for license cards and plates in March when they should have started the procurement in August last year when the 2023 budget was submitted to Congress. (PNA)

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