A QUEZON City court has issued a writ of preliminary injunction stopping the Land Transportation Office from procuring plastic cards for drivers’ licenses.
Once the injunction becomes effective, the LTO would have to go back to issuing paper licenses for new applicants while the case against the plastic cards contract is pending, according to LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza.
In an interview with Teleradyo, Mendoza confirmed the issuance of the injunction and said this would stop the delivery of plastic cards used for printing drivers’ licenses.
“The moment that injunction becomes effective, mahihinto yung supplier natin, hindi na siya puwede mag deliver,” Mendoza said.
“Maapektuhan yung ating timeline. Dati goodbye papel na tayo, ito magiging welcome back,” he added.
AllCard Inc. earlier filed a case questioning the award of the contract for the plastic cards to Banner Plasticard. AllCard questioned its disqualification from bidding for the deal despite offering the lowest bid.
It was able to obtain a temporary restraining order against the LTO in August, but this already lapsed after 20 days.
But it was recently able to get the writ of preliminary injunction, which has no set expiration date.
Mendoza said the injunction has not yet taken effect because AllCard Inc. has yet to file a bond, and the deliveries of plastic cards to LTO continues.
But once the injunction takes effect, those who would apply for a license would get paper licenses again, he said.
He said the LTO would focus on using the plastic cards it has to address the backlog in the issuance of plastic card licenses from previous months.
The agency would also prioritize the overseas Filipino workers and those who need physical cards for their jobs.
But he also said LTO might ask AllCard not to pursue the implementation of the writ of preliminary injunction.
“Para naman ang taong bayan hindi na magkaroon ng paghihintay para sa cards nila,” he said.
