DOTC postpones bidding for P3.85-B license plates

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has postponed anew the bidding of a contract worth P3.85 billion for the production and supply of new license plates for motor vehicles and motorcycles over a period of five years.

DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla moved the deadline for the submission of bids for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Motor Vehicle Plate Standardization Program to April 22.

“Upon the request of bidders to give them ample time to prepare their bidding documents, the submission and opening of bidding documents for the project is extended from April 8 to April 22,” Lotilla said.

This is the third time the project has been delayed, as the submission of bids was originally set on March 12 but was moved to March 22 and then to April 8.

Under the program, the winning bidder will supply license plates, including screws and stickers, to the LTO for a period of five years starting July this year up to June 2018.

The approved budget of P3.85 billion covers the payment for 5.23 million pairs of license plates for motor vehicles and at least 9.97 million license plates for motorcycles.

The DOTC stated in the invitation that the bid for each pair of plates for motor vehicles should not exceed P450 inclusive of stickers and plate screws, and P150 for motorcycle plates with stickers and plate screws.

According to the guidelines, the winning bidder has to deliver 1.845 million pairs of license plates for motor vehicles and 2.24 million license plates for motorcycles and tricycles between July and December this year.

DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier said the standardization of license plates would help in identifying counterfeit plates, eliminate the use of dilapidated plates and the common practice of non-replacement of lost plates.

Abaya said the program would also address the unreliable motor vehicle database system and concerns on national security and crime.

The DOTC said the new license plates would bear security features and a bar code containing vehicle details like the chassis number and the date of registry.

Standardized license plates of new motor vehicles or those that would be registered for the first time would have a combination of three letters and four numbers, while motorcycles would have two alphanumeric symbols and five numbers.

At present, motor vehicle plate numbers have three letters and three numbers, while motorcycles have two letters and four numbers. The current license plate design and font has been in use since 1981.