LTO won?t stop car plate project | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - The license plate standardization of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will continue despite a notice of disallowance issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) barring funding for the program.

LTO spokesman Jason Salvador said the program would not be suspended because many vehicles would be left with no plates.

“Public interest is involved here… we will continue,” Salvador said.

He said there is no “explicit” COA instruction to stop the program, adding that they have yet to receive word from the Department of Transportation and Communications.

COA disallowed P477,901,329 in procurement transaction between the LTO and the Dutch-Filipino consortium PPI-JKG Philippines Inc., saying it was irregular and illegal.

The audit agency said LTO’s procurement process violated the procedures in accordance with Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Salvador said they received COA’s notice of disallowance last week. He said that they were surprised and saddened by the decision, considering that they have submitted all the necessary documents.

“We were surprised with the disallowance because it was saying all this time that the very gist of their disallowance is the funding requirement and we’ve already answered these time and again in many instances,” he said.

Salvador said the public has nothing to worry about COA’s decision, but appealed for patience over delays in the issuance of car plates.
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