Kinatigan ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215 ang apela ng ALLCARD, Inc. na maglabas ng temporary restraining order laban sa Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Land Transportation Office (LTO) dahil sa iregularidad sa naganap na bidding para sa Pre-Printed Driver’s License Cards for C.Y. 2023 Procurement Project.

Batay sa kautusang ipinalabas ni Judge Rafael G. Hipolito noong Martes, Agosto 15, pansamantalang ipinahihinto ang pag-usad ng kontrata ng LTO at ng nanalong bidder sa naturang proyekto, ang Banner Plasticard, Inc. (Banner) na mayroong bid offer na mas mataas nang P43 million kaysa ALLCARD.

Binigyang-diin din dito ang kakulangan ng LTO na makapagbigay ng komprehensibong paliwanag kung bakit kinunsidera ang ALLCARD na guilty of delay at mayroong unsatisfactory performance na naging dahilan ng pagkadiskwalipika nito.

“LTO, through its HoPE [Head of the Procuring Entity], awarded the subject procurement project contract to Banner on 21 June 2023, immediately the day after LTO denied petitioner’s Request for Reconsideration after it was post disqualified and clearly, even before the lapse of the seven (7) day period given by law and the implementing rules to petitioner within which to file a protest,” saad ng hukuman sa naganap na hearing.

Dagdag pa rito: “When there seems to be less than full transparency on the part of LTO by failing to fully disclose why petitioner should be considered guilty of delay for at least 10% of the contract price of its project with BSP and deserving to be considered with unsatisfactory performance; and when LTO through its mother agency the DOTr through the latter’s Undersecretary Kim Robert C. De Leon, the designated HoPE in this case, awarded the contract to Banner even before the lapse of the period to file a protest, this case unfortunately reeks with unfairness or injustice to the petitioner who was clearly deprived of its right to due process, and deserving judicial intervention.”

Ayon sa petisyon ng ALLCARD nilabag umano ng DOTr at LTO ang mga probisyon sa Procurement Law 9184 at Implementing Rules and Regulations nito dahil sa naging mabilis at hindi makatarungang desisyon ng ahensya na paboran ang Banner.

Matatandaang nagsumite ang ALLCARD ng request for reconsideration (RR) matapos makuha ng disqualification notice noong Hunyo 30. Subalit tinanggihan ito ng LTO noong Hunyo 20 at nagpatuloy sa pagbigay ng kontrata sa Banner makalipas ang isang araw.

Batay sa Government Procurement Reform Act, maaring mag-apela at magsumite ng verified position ang losing bidder sa loob ng pitong araw kapag tinanggihan ang RR nito. Kailangan din hintayin ng ahensya na matapos ang pitong araw na window para makapaghain ng protest at ibigay ang kontrata sa nanalong bidder.