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ALLIANCE
of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto) president
Efren de Luna has expressed strong opposition in the
renewal of contract of Amalgamated Motors Philippines
Inc., the driver’s license supplier of the Land
Transportation Office (LTO).
De Luna
said LTO chief Alberto Suansing should think not only
twice but many times whether he will approve the
contract renewal of Ampi as the agency’s license
provider.
The
contract of Ampi will expire shortly and the company is
expected to bid for another contract in the coming
years.
At the
same time, de Luna called on the Department of
Transportation and Communications and the Ombudsman to
investigate and file possible charges against the
license supplier for the poor quality of the materials
used in processing the licenses of millions of drivers.
This
developed after Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. called
on Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to look into the
driver’s license mess and file charges if evidence
warrants.
A few
days ago, Suansing admitted in a news conference that
out of the 6 million manufactured licenses, at least
10,000 cards were returned to the agency and replaced
because these were already faded and no longer
readable.
“Bakit
tayo magtitiis sa hindi maayos na serbisyo sa kabila ng
nagbabayad ang mga drivers nang malaking halaga
kung mayroon namang ibang kumpanya ang maaaring
makapagbigay ng magandang serbisyo,” de Luna said.
He said
even if the LTO replaces defective licenses free of
charge, the holders of such license lose time and have
to spend for transportation and other incidentals when
they go to LTO offices for replacement.
Aside
from the Ombudsman, de Luna said that Congress should
also investigate Ampi’s poor service.
The LTO,
he added, should instead assume the services presently
awarded to the said license provider. (J. Perez) |