Solon asks SC to void LTO’s 5-yr driver’s license card project

A lawmaker on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to nullify the Land Transportation Office’s 5-year driver’s license card project worth P836 million.

ACTS OFW Representative Aniceto Bertiz III said the project is unconstitutional because the government proceeded with the bidding even without legally appropriated funds.

“There is no existing or continuing appropriations for purposes of the expenditure for the Procurement of Driver’s License Cards with five-year validity since Congress has not enacted a law authorizing the expenditure in the form of an existing or continuing appropriations,” Bertiz said.

He pointed out that money will only be paid out of the Treasury if there is an appropriation made by law.

Named respondents include Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon, Commission on Audit (COA) chair Michael Aguinaldo, LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, and winning bidder Dermalog with Nextix and CFP joint venture.

The project worth P829.668-million was awarded to the winning bidders last March 31, 2017.