Incoming SolGen to probe LTO license plates mess

Incoming Solicitor General Jose Calida is going to scrutinize questionable government contracts, particularly the controversial deal involving the new car license plates.

Calida said he would probe the P3.8-billion supply contract that the Land Transporation Office awarded to a Dutch firm for new license plates.

The Senate had questioned the LTO for bidding out the contract in 2013 despite not having enough funds for the project. It had an approved budget of P3.85 billion in 2014, but in 2013 it was only appropriated with P187 million.

The Commission on Audit (COA) had issued a notice of disallowance on the Plate Standardization Program.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated around 300,000 license plates after its supplier, J.Knierem b.v and Power Plates Development Concepts Inc, (JKG-PPI), failed to pay the P40-million import duties on time.

Even as the BOC had turned the plates over to the agency last month, the backlog remained at around 2.5 million.

During the Holy Week last year, another batch of license plate sheets was stolen from the LTO Central Office in Quezon City.

LTO spokesperson Jason Salvador said the agency will cooperate with Calida if he decides to push through with the  inquiry once he assumes his post.

“We’ve always maintained that the procurement process was above board, everything was out n the open, lahat naman transparent. Of course we’re open. The papers are there, all the documents are there,” Salvador said.

Salvador, meanwhile, said that it still could not pay the license plate supplier because of the COA's order.

“Our problem is with COA. We still have a pending appeal with them. Hopefully lumabas na ‘yun in time. Whatever the decision maybe, be it positive of negative, our wish is that they could come out with a resolution so finally we can move forward. We know where to go,” he said. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/VDS/ALG, GMA News