Manila Philippines - According from a previous report made by PCIJ, the 2002 Philippine budget have set aside P57 million for the production of motor vehicle plates and P329 million for drivers' licenses which some rival contractors of the INC-linked Amalgamated Management and Development Corp. have said that it should not be provided by the government since motorists pay their car plates and licenses for themselves. This means that the Philippine Government has allocated a budget of P386 million on the year 2002 that was given to INC-linked Amalgamated Management and Development Corp for vehicle plates and driver's licenses but still, motorists have to pay for it. Wow! Tubong lugaw! Take note: That was only for the year 2002! How about for the year 2003-2010? Your guess is as good as with mine. Ampi's involvement with LTO started since the regime of Ferdinand Marcos.
Actually, the presumably involvement of the political cult Iglesia Ni Cristo in LTO (Land Transportation Office) contract is a taboo or a well-known information but few people are brave enough to discuss it. I am thankful that Philippine Daily Inquirer's Neal Cruz was brave enough to expose the 'mysteries' happening inside the LTO. As Neal have mentioned, most contracts in LTO are awarded to INC members. Hmmmm. The present LTO chief, Assistant Transportation Secretary Virgie Torres is an INC member. Hmmmm. The owner of the LTO contractor Amalgamated Motors Inc. (Ampi) that produces driver's licenses, identification cards, and motor vehicle plates, Filemon Cuevas, is another INC member. Hmmmm. The contract of Ampi with LTO expired in 2003 but still in operation and receiving payments (P500 million a year)for SEVEN years without a contract. Hmmmm. ---Those are 4 consecutive sentences with Hmmmm.
Iglesia Ni Cristo member LTO chief, Virgie Torres opened the bidding process for the 2011 contract (after 7 years of no contract with Amalgamated Motors Inc!!!) but some bidders complained that the terms of reference (TOR) clearly favored Ampi, owned by another INC member Filemon Cuevas. (Iglesia Ni Cristo is well-known for taking care of their members, including housing and employment). Do we still need to mention again the very poor performance of the LTO contractor that it takes at least three months to produce vehicle plates? It's good thing that the Transportation Secretary JOSE “Ping” de Jesus decided to stop the bidding process while the TOR is being reviewed. The questionable provisions of the TOR includes in going back to drivers’ licenses made of paper, instead of plastic cards. WHY? WHY? WHY? The Philippines need to step forward, not backward. I think the Iglesia Ni Cristo member LTO chief, Virgie Torres need to reconsider her decisions and start thinking the benefit of the greater good.