Transport execs admit hands still tied on P350 refund to motorists

Motorists who forked out P350 for the "Radio Frequency Identification" (RFID) system for motor vehicles may have to wait some more before getting their refunds from the Land Transportation Office (LTO). LTO spokesman Roberto Ricohermoso said on Thursday they are waiting for the RFID supplier, Stradcom, to sign the documents needed to process the refunds. The Transportation Department also said it had to clear some "legal" issues before giving out the refunds. “Ginawa ng LTO ang guidelines, kaya lang itong huli dapat ibabalik na yan di pa maibabalik kasi kailangan ng signature ng hepe ng Stradcom, si Mr. Cesar Quiambao," Ricohermoso said in an interview on dzBB radio on Thursday. (We have already completed the guidelines but we still cannot push through with the refund because we need the signature of Stradcom chairman Cesar Quiambao) Ricohermoso said Quiambao is still abroad and could not say when Quiambao would return. Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus said Thursday there are some “legal" issues still to be hurdled before the refund can be given out. “The LTO tried but I understand Stradcom has not done it. They say they may be cited for contempt kasi sa Supreme Court ang kaso (because the case is with the Supreme Court)," de Jesus said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said the Commission on Audit already ordered the refund even before he assumed his post. He said he already ordered the LTO to start the refund. “Pinapaaral ko pa yan, I’m asking our lawyers to check if it is a valid basis for not refunding. Buong maibabalik yan as soon as we are clear on the legal side ," he said. (I ordered our lawyers to study it. We will refund the money in full once we are clear on the legal side.) As of January 2010, the Supreme Court stopped the LTO from implementing the RDID system for motor vehicles, and ordered the agency to give out refunds to the affected motorists. The LTO had sought to implement RFID to keep track of vehicles, but militant groups questioned it, saying it did not go through required public bidding. The groups also said the RFID system may invade the motorists’ privacy. Ricohermoso said the LTO had collected some P31 million from the motorists. He said LTO chief Virginia Torres is already anxious to return the money. Under the LTO guidelines, he said the refund will be done by region. “Ang pagbabalik gagawin by regions para di mahirapan punta rito sa Manila ang motorista. Ipakita ang resibo na binayaran nila, dalawang valid ID at ire-release yan (The refund will be by regions so motorists need not come to Manila. They only need to show their receipts and two valid IDs to get the refund)," he said. –VVP, GMANews.TV