High Court lifts TRO on issuance of 700,000 license plates to motorists
By Moira Encina
Eagle News Service
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declared that there was an allotment in the 2014 General Appropriations Act for the Motor Vehicle Plate Standardization Program, and that the use of such funds was constitutional.
In making the ruling, the SC effectively paved the way for the release of 700,000 license plates which had been the subject of a temporary restraining order pending resolution of the petition filed by former Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz and Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting.
The petitioners argued that the contract was awarded to a Filipino-Dutch consortium without an allotment under the 2014 GAA.
According to the SC, in the case of Jacomille vs Abaya on April 20, 2015, the High Court already ruled on the legality of the procurement of the MVPSP and that “whatever defects (that) attended the procurement had been ‘cured’ by the appropriation in the 2014 GAA of the full amount.”
“It noted that while the Jacomille (decision) focused on the legality of the procurement of the MVPSP in consideration of the insufficient funding of the project under the 2013 GAA, the Court nonetheless determined in that case that the 2014 GAA contained an appropriation for the MVPSP and, thus, could be implemented using the funds under the 2014 GAA,” the SC said.
“The appropriation, both for procurement and implementation has been examined and decided by the Court and may not be assailed anew under the present petition based on the same grounds..,” the SC added.
The shipment of vehicle and motorcycle license plates had been kept at the Manila International Container Port while Tambunting’s and Dela Cruz’s petition was pending.
The Bureau of Customs then donated the plates to the Land Transportation Office.
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