INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Several House lawmakers grilled the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for its slow online system for license renewal and registration.
During the House committee on transportation’s hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Bernadette Herrera of the Bagong Henerasyon Partylist fumed over the “confusing” answers of several LTO officials on why the agency was still using its Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), with its old IT contractor Stradcom and its new one, Germany-based Dermalog.
LTO representatives told the panel that they still have no full control of the system since Stradcom has not yet fully turned over the database source code.
Rep. Augustina Pancho of the second district of Bulacan echoed Herrera’s disappointment over the LTO’s slow processing of applications.
“There is really negligence on the part of our government, and it is very shameful na pinamumukha pa sa atin ng ibang bansa. We should do something about this and put this on record na talagang nagkulang ang ating government, ang LTO po natin,” she said.
Asked about when the LTO is expected to take full control of the system, its chief Teofilo Guadiz III said this should be accomplished by December 2024, when the contract with Dermalog is set to lapse.
But this did not sit well with Rep. Romeo Acop of the second district of Antipolo.
“What you’re trying to tell this body is that up to 2024, the Filipino people will still suffer what they are suffering now? Is that what you’re trying to tell us?” he inquired.
Guadiz said they are currently trying to do their best as the current system lacked special features and because of the limited access to the previous database of the user’s information.
“What I’m trying to say is that until 2024 we can effectively control the system but for now we are trying our best to really make do with what’s given to us right now with the situation but we are giving our best, your honor,” Guadiz said.
But Dermalog project director Till Dunkel rebutted the LTO’s answer, noting that the agency and the Management Information Division already have full control of the system.
“The contract had a total amount of P3.1 billion, which includes five-year maintenance payment. We are now in year three of the maintenance so we have two more years to go. However, LTO and MID already have full control of the system so they can configure and change whatever is needed,” Dunkel explained.
He later added: “I share the frustration, absolutely, because there are things that could be done to serve the public better.”
Dunkel said the system should allow people to seamlessly transact online but “unfortunately, LTO is not using these features.”
READ: IT contractor says probe shows source of system slowdown is within LTO
“It is available, it is tested, it went to the user acceptance test, it went to the quality assurance test, and it’s all good,” he also noted.
After a lengthy deliberation, Guadiz pointed out that from the end of the users, there are still functions left unclear; thus, the agency needs additional help from the modules of the developers for the application of the system. They also called on Stradcom to complete the turnover of data.
“What Dermalog has been saying is that it was delivered from the perspective of a developer, what LTO is saying is from the perspective of an end user. What we have here is a list given to us from the field by our district offices. Hindi pa po gumagana kasi may mga kulang-kulang pa na dapat magawa (It’s still not in effect because there are things that still need to be done) to complete these cycles of new registration,” Guadiz further explained.
Responding to this, Dermalog vowed to help further enhance the system.
Herrera then concluded by requesting another hearing, and for both parties to submit conclusions to the panel. —Kristelle Anne Razon, trainee
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