The Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines on Saturday asked the Supreme Court to terminate the P829.67-million deal on the procurement of driver’s license cards with five-year validity from an allegedly anomalous joint venture.
In a petition filed on Friday before the high court, ATM wanted to block the Land Transportation Office from proceeding with the purchase of six million plastic license cards for 2017 from the Joint Venture NEXTIX, Dermalog Identification Systems, and CFP Strategic Transaction Advisors.
“The project was contracted out to the Dermalog, CFP and NEXTIX JV in clear violation of existing procurement laws,” the anti-corruption watchdog said.
The group also asked the SC to order the LTO to “cease and desist” from its continued contracting of the project to the said joint venture.
On April 3, the LTO awarded the contract to Dermalog, CFP and NEXTIX joint venture to produce six million plastic license cards for this year.
“LTO violated Section 57 of the Government Procurement Reform Act by awarding the project to Dermalog JV prior to resolving the pending protests of other bidders,” ATM said in a statement.
The Dermalog, CFP and NEXTIX JV beat out Banner Plasticard Inc. and the joint venture of Filipino trader Kolonwel and Indonesian paper supplier PT Pura.
The LTO plans to begin the distribution of the license cards in August.