Scrapping of car-tagging project sought

LEFTIST PARTY-LIST lawmakers yesterday asked the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of a controversial vehicle-tracking project in January.

In a 56-page petition, Bayan Muna Reps. Satur C. Ocampo and Teodoro A. Casino, Jr.; Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglungsod and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza L. Maza; and transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) said the project, called RFID, did not undergo proper procurement processes.

"From the beginning, the project and its proponents violated laws designed to protect the government from wastage of public fund on the one hand; and on the other, the public -- in this case the owners of motor vehicles -- from having their hard-earned money squandered on for a project that has no proven merit," the petitioners said.

Originally set for implementation last Oct. 1 but deferred to January to allow further consultations on the project, RFID would require the conspicuous installation of a computer chip that should be visible to a tracking device installed at random along thoroughfares.

The chip, for one-time fee of P350 for 10 year, would be required upon registration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The chip would indicate the vehicle’s background supposedly to deter theft, smuggling and noncompliance to registration requirements such as emission testing.

To be implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), particularly through LTO, the program is expected to raise P1.6 billion in revenues, with technology to be provided by Stradcom Corp., the technology provider of the DoTC’s computerization program.

The concerned agencies have claimed that RFID is only an enhancement of an existing project with Stradcom.

"But as was itself admitted by Stradcom..., the tags and readers will be sourced out from no less than two suppliers... Thus, it could not be said that RFID project is included in the [existing] project," the lawmaker-petitioner claimed.

They said competitive bidding should be held for the project since Stradcom will not manufacture the tags.

They added that prior approval of the National Economic and Development Authority is required as the project would need additional expenses, and claimed that the concerned agencies have usurped the power of Congress due to the absence of a law requiring RFID as a prerequisite for a vehicle registration. -- IPP